Council boosts its budget by $17.3M

THE CITY Council hiked its own budget by a hefty 27% with a vote Thursday.

Under new Speaker Corey Johnson, the Council is boosting its spending by $17.3 million, from $64.1 million in the current fiscal year to $81.4 million next year.

The boost is enough to hire 125 more staffers, a 37% increase.

“It’s a new day in the City Council and we’re really doing our job,” said Johnson, who campaigned for speaker vowing to hike the staff budget and made promises to various caucuses as he was wooing votes.

The money includes four more staffers for the speaker’s own office, which Johnson said includes one person dedicated to the progressive caucus, one for the women’s caucus, an extra body person for himself, and a special counsel.

The extra cash will also pay for a new oversight and investigations unit the Council has formed.

It would also allow Council members to give raises to their existing staff, who Johnson said are often picked off by other city agencies offering higher pay.

Two years ago, Council members voted to give themselves 32% raises, from $112,500 a year to $148,500.