BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Citing roles chock-full of “specialized skills, long hours and complex tasks,” City Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm said Monday that future elected city officials should be paid more for their efforts.
If that position, which she offered during a meeting of city council's Finance Committee, is approved, city council members, the city controller and mayor positions would be in for the following salary adjustments:
- 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
"This is not about personal gain, but about fair compensation for future council members, as well as future controller and mayor."Bethlehem City Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm
“There’s no guarantee that anyone voting on these increases, nor anyone in the roles being evaluated, will personally benefit," Wilhelm said. "It’s entirely possible that none of us will benefit.
“This is not about personal gain, but about fair compensation for future council members, as well as future controller and mayor.
“All three of these positions are foundational to our city’s governance; their compensation should reflect the responsibilities they hold.”
More discussion to come
The Finance Committee — made up of Councilwomen Wilhelm, Grace Crampsie Smith, Rachel Leon and Hillary Kwiatek, all Democrats — unanimously agreed to send the discussion to council, which is set to meet next on March 4.
The four council members each have terms ending this year.
Crampsie Smith recently announced her intention to run for mayor against incumbent J. William Reynolds, another Democrat.
And last week, Reynolds outlined his candidacy for a second mayoral term.
Leon has gone on record about her plans to run for council again.
Council President Michael Colón will be up for re-election in 2027.
Democrat George Yasso, city controller who oversees Bethlehem’s municipal spending, has a term ending this year.
No raise for me, mayor says
During a relevant discussion at council’s Nov. 12 budget hearing, Reynolds said there was “a zero percent chance” he would sign off on any future raise of his own.
That means the panel would need a veto-proof majority to push through a salary increase.
Each respective salary increase would have to go through the mayor for a final signature.
According to current figures shared by the city, the proposed salary switch would put Bethlehem City Council members ($10,560) behind Allentown's ($15,000) but ahead of Easton's ($9,371) in pay.
It appears to be a similar case for the controller position, putting Bethlehem's controller $20,000 below Allentown's but $25,000 more than Easton's.
As for mayor money, Easton sits at the top with a nearly $105,000 salary, while the proposed Bethlehem pay would be $98,000 in 2026 — putting the new mayor ahead of Allentown’s respective salary by $3,000.
“People have the right to decide whether or not they think that we’ve lived up to what we say we wanted to do, whether we’ve performed well."Bethlehem City Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek
“I’m still very torn about it,” Leon said. “But I do think that if this does go to council — which is where it would have to go — ultimately, we would have a responsibility as a full council to decide where the money would come from, how we would make it budget-neutral.
“So I wouldn’t recommend to council where to cut the budget or where to adjust the budget; I think that’s a decision we’d have to make, the seven of us.”
The voters offer their elected representatives a performance review through elections every four years, Kwiatek said.
“People have the right to decide whether or not they think that we’ve lived up to what we say we wanted to do, whether we’ve performed well,” she said.
'Feeling uneasy'
It’s unclear, for now, how the city would make arrangements in the 2026 budget for such increases, but more details could be hashed out in the coming months, according to city Business Administrator Eric Evans.
He and a couple committee members agreed that “staggered” approvals at different times likely would bode better for the city financially.
“It’s difficult because it’s not often that you see employees, that they get to raise their own salary,” Cramspie Smith said.
“And I’m also feeling uneasy about the fact that we don’t know budget-wise where we’ll get the money to cover the cost.”
“I’d support an increase in pay for mayor and council if there was some agreement on goals, objectives and outcomes — that is performance. If you achieve your goals, you get more money."Bethlehem resident Bud Hackett
Bud Hackett, who has lived in the city more than 30 years, said he wondered if the salary proposal would lead to “better outcomes” for the city’s residents.
“I’d support an increase in pay for mayor and council if there was some agreement on goals, objectives and outcomes — that is performance,” Hackett said.
“If you achieve your goals, you get more money. Paying someone based on merit of how they perform on the job should be part of this evaluation and consideration.”
