$85K Salaries For Council Members? Jersey City To Vote On Own Raises Wednesday

JERSEY CITY, NJ — For the second time in three years, the nine part-time members of the City Council in Jersey City are considering giving themselves a raise this Wednesday.

Eight of the council members would get a salary bump to $85,000 each, except for the council president, who'd get $90,000.

These increases will represent a $25,000-per-year raise, NJ.com noted Monday.

The council members can also hire at least three paid aides each.

In 2019, the members were earning $36,180, but voted to amend an ordinance so that they'd get periodic increases until they were earning $60,000 in 2021. The council president earns $65,000.

In Jersey City, at least 42 percent of the public school students qualify for the free lunch program, meaning a family of four would have an annual income of $34,450 or less.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with a caucus preceding it at 4 p.m. It takes place at 280 Grove St., Jersey City.

The agenda is here.

Meanwhile, members of a community group sent the council members a letter saying the meetings shouldn't only be in person, and should be hybrid so people can also participate on-line, JC Times reported.

Council President Joyce Watterman had told NJ.com last month that Jersey City's population increase made the change necessary, and that the council members are "on call 24 hours a day."

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