Mayor and City Council pay raises
Charlotte's FY 2027 Budget includes significant pay raises for the mayor and city council members. The mayor's salary would rise 14.6% to $57,054, while council members would receive a 9.7% increase to $45,644. City Manager Marcus Jones proposed aligning council pay with Mecklenburg County commissioners before adding a 4% raise. Outgoing Mayor Vi Lyles will not personally benefit, as she resigned June 30, 2026.
Should Charlotte's budget include significant pay raises for the mayor and city council members?
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Sources
City Manager Marcus Jones — https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-budget-provides-significant-pay-raises-mayor-city-council/RAFNWLRYKVBBXCJXDUEZCJZODE
City Manager Marcus Jones said he wants to align the pay of city council with the FY26 pay of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners before then providing a 4% increase similar to the general fund employees.
WBTV / Dalfred Jones — https://www.wbtv.com/2026/06/09/charlotte-city-council-approves-budget-after-months-debate-including-10-raise-police-fire
The budget also includes raises for council members and the mayor in the 2027 fiscal year, and establishes a new minimum wage of $25 an hour for all city workers.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Support even larger raises to attract highly qualified candidates and make public service more accessible.
- Support the proposed raises to align council pay with comparable local government officials.
- Approve only a modest cost-of-living adjustment until the city's budget pressures are resolved.
- Freeze elected official salaries for the duration of any property tax increase.
- Oppose any pay raises for elected officials; public service should not be a path to higher compensation.