Newport News City Council has approved a significant salary increase for its mayor and council members, effective July 1, 2025. Currently, Mayor Phillip Jones and council members receive $27,000 and $25,000 annually, respectively, figures that have remained unchanged since 2002. Under the new resolution passed by the council, the mayor’s annual salary will nearly double to $51,000, while council members will see their annual pay rise to $47,000.
The decision, reported by The Virginian Pilot, saw Mayor Phillip Jones as the sole dissenting vote. He abstained from disclosing his reasons during the council meeting and has not elaborated on his stance following the decision. The council’s vote aligns with recent legislative changes permitting cities of certain sizes to adjust compensation for elected officials. Similar salary adjustments have recently been authorized in neighboring cities such as Hampton and Portsmouth.
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Proponents of the salary increase argued that higher compensation could attract a more diverse pool of candidates for elected positions. However, some residents expressed concerns about the timing of the decision and advocated for additional public input before finalizing the salary adjustments. The council’s deliberations also included considerations of various studies on appropriate compensation levels for city officials, aiming to strike a balance between equitable pay and the city’s financial capabilities.
