BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem City Council, in three separate votes Tuesday, showed preliminary support for salary increases for the future mayor, controller and council members.
Mayor J. William Reynolds, who is running against Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith in the May 20 primary election, on Tuesday said he would veto any raise proposed for the mayoral position.
The ordinances will be back on the March 18 City Council agenda for a second reading.
Pending another vote of approval, protocol would allow the mayor 10 days to approve the ordinance, veto and return it to council or just let it die, considering the timeframe between that point and the next council meeting on April 1.
A city statute requires such adjustments in salary to take place by the end of March to allow hopeful candidates the time to withdraw their bids for office in light of potential changes in pay.
If the vetoed ordinance did happen to go back to council, the panel would need five of seven members on board to override the mayor's ruling.
The salary increases on the table include:
- Next council president’s salary rising from $7,600 to $11,400 a year;
- Come 2026, newly elected and re-elected council member salaries rising from $7,100 to $10,650. Council salaries have been stagnant for 16 years; the most recent raises of $200 were in 2009;
- Newly elected mayor’s salary rising from $90,500 to $98,000 a year. It has not been increased in 12 years, but averaged a $2,200 annual rise from 2006-13;
- The next controller’s pay rising from the previous $49,000 to $56,000. It has been stagnant 16 years, with the most recent raise of $1,500 in 2009.
The tallies
The incoming election cycle opens four seats on council currently held by Councilwomen Grace Crampsie Smith, Kiera Wilhelm, Rachel Leon and Hillary Kwiatek.
If re-elected, each would benefit from the salary increases at that point.
Raises for the three remaining council seats would not take effect until 2028.
On Feb. 24, council's Finance Committee showed potential interest in the raises, moving further discussion to the full council.
Tuesday's votes went as follows:
Council salary (passed 4-3): Crampsie Smith, Callahan and Leon, nay; Kwiatek, Laird, Wilhelm and Colón, aye.
Controller salary (passed 6-1): Crampsie Smith nay; all others, aye.
Mayor salary (passed 5-2): Crampsie Smith and Colón, nay; all others, aye.
'A more fair wage'
Council members said they take part in bi-monthly meetings; hours of prep time and research, engagement with constituents and meetings with the administration; attending committee and community meetings; and represent their community at public events.
Wilhelm, who originally proposed the raises, said upping the pay opens the opportunity to serve to more people around the city.
“Just because it’s uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do,” Wilhelm said. “I’m here to advocate for a more fair wage.
“I’m happy to hear others’ thoughts, and I look forward to settling on a more fair compensation for those who will inhabit these seats and serve Bethlehem in years to come.”
“This is not a mid-year raise,” Kwiatek said of the potential increases on council salaries.
“It wouldn’t happen until January of 2026, which means that if the $14,200 were to be added into the budget, that would be part of the budget process where we would look at all of our budget lines, as we do every year, and find the resources.”
“While this change doesn’t affect the current members unless they’re reelected, it’s long overdue. And it sets a precedent for even basic valuing of the work of future councils.”Bethlehem City Councilwoman Colleen Laird, on salary increases for future city elected officials
“If we’re talking about increasing accessibility, if we’re talking about increasing people’s voices, if we’re talking about building a Bethlehem for everybody — we need to look at why this job is so cost-prohibitive,” Leon said.
“It can’t just be people who are financially stable or who are business owners.”
Before the vote on the council raises, Leon said her “biggest hesitation” regarding its approval was that officials would have to find the money for four newly elected or reelected council members, which would be tougher to arrange for than just three new members at a time.
Leon also asked if it was fine to abstain from the vote, though solicitor Steward advised against it.
Laird said, “While this change doesn’t affect the current members unless they’re reelected, it’s long overdue. And it sets a precedent for even basic valuing of the work of future councils.”
“I look at what’s going on at the federal level and there’s so much economic uncertainty, and I’m afraid that this really could end up pretty significantly adversely affecting those in the community,” Crampsie Smith said.
Council President Colón said “a modest, slight increase” in the elected-office pay may just encourage others to run for office. But he said he was hesitant to vote in favor of the mayor’s increase because of Reynolds’ intention to veto.
Since City Controller George Yasso was absent, Colón spoke on his behalf, saying Yasso “made it clear to me that he is not advocating for the increase” to the controller salary.
'The merit is in the vote'
Four members of the public spoke generally in favor of some form of increase for at least one of the elected positions involved in the proposal.
About the same amount spoke against the raises.
West Bethlehem resident Sebastian Zawierucha, who supported the raises, said, “The merit is in the vote.”
“You are voted in as representative members; it’s not a matter of being merited based off the value of the dollar,” Zawierucha said.
“That’s something that we as active members of our community have a responsibility to hold you accountable through our power of vote.”
Another resident, Harry Faber, said he had no issue with the controller’s increase, but raises for the mayor and council were another story.
"I believe the most consistent attribute of the council over the last year of attendance has been failure to meet public demand and, along with it, a complete deflection of responsibility.”Bethlehem resident Harry Faber, on potential raises for future Bethlehem elected officials
“My reasoning for the mayor is quite simple: I just think 90,500 [dollars] is more than enough,” Faber said.
“As for City Council, I believe the most consistent attribute of the council over the last year of attendance has been failure to meet public demand and, along with it, a complete deflection of responsibility.”
He and others, disappointed in City Council, spoke critically of how the panel handled public calls for an Israel-Hamas war cease-fire document and a pro-immigrant “welcoming city” ordinance.
Some commenters said Wind Creek Bethlehem should pony up more tax money for the raises, or that the salary increases should go to local first responders instead.
The Wind Creek casino is set to pay $9.9 million in host fees in 2025, according to city Business Administrator Eric Evans.
Mayor Reynolds said city first responders have collective bargaining agreements lined up for at least 3% salary increases, as well as overtime opportunities.
Evans said officials will have a better idea closer to 2026 budget discussions on where to find potential funds for such raises.
