Newport News City Council voted to nearly double the mayor and council members’ salaries starting July 1, 2025, with Mayor Phillip Jones being the sole dissenter, citing reasons undisclosed during the meeting.
Newport News City Council Votes to Nearly Double Mayor and Council Members’ Salaries from 2025
According to The Virginian Pilot, Newport News City Council recently decided to almost double how much they pay their mayor and council members each year. Currently, the mayor gets $27,000 annually, and council members receive $25,000, amounts that haven’t changed since 2002. Starting from July 1, 2025, the mayor’s salary will go up to $51,000, while council members will earn $47,000 per year.
Mayor Phillip Jones was the only one who voted against the salary increase. During the meeting, he didn’t explain why he was against it, and he hasn’t responded to questions about his decision. The council’s vote followed new laws that allow cities of certain sizes to increase how much they pay their elected officials. Similar decisions were made recently in Hampton and Portsmouth.
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Newport News City Council Approves 89% Salary Hike for Mayor and Council Members: $51,000 for Mayor, $47,000 for Council Members (PHOTO: WVEC)
Newport News City Council Considers Salary Increase to Attract Diverse Candidates
The council’s decision came after discussions about how paying more might attract more diverse candidates to run for office. Some residents supported the increase, but others wanted more time for public input before the decision was made final. The council also looked at studies about how much city officials should be paid, trying to balance fair pay with what the city can afford.
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