ISLG Scope of Work

Scope of Work: Research Consultant, CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

The 2026 Quadrennial Advisory Commission (the “Commission”) has engaged the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (CUNY ISLG) to provide comprehensive research, data collection, and analytical support. CUNY ISLG will support the Commission by providing research and analysis that addresses the Commission’s key questions and data needs, including those related to the compensation of elected officials in New York City and in comparable cities across the country, inflation and the cost of living in New York City, and wage trends over time.

Scope of Services

CUNY ISLG shall:

•  Collect, synthesize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data relevant to compensation of City elected officials.
•  Produce data visualizations, tables, notes, and other materials to be used in the Commission’s report.
•  Attend Commission meetings and the public hearing and provide subject-matter expertise, as requested.

Research Areas and Data Collection Requirements

CUNY ISLG will conduct analysis across at least the following areas. To the extent possible, CUNY ISLG will examine trends in each area from at least 2016 forward.

1. Analysis Concerning Compensation Levels for City Elected Officials

   CUNY ISLG will summarize the current level of compensation for elected officials in New York City.

2. Comparison of City Elected Officials Compensation Relative to Wages for Others in New York

   CUNY ISLG will analyze trends in compensation for elected officials in New York City relative to other city workers and heads of large organizations in New York City. This may include:

   • Analysis of pay for City elected officials relative to the City’s civil service
   • Analysis of pay for City elected officials relative to selected appointed officials in New York City government, public authorities, and elected officials in New York State government
   • Analysis of pay for City elected officials relative to New York City non-profit executives, private executives, university executives, and union leaders
     
     

3. Analysis of Compensation for Elected Officials in Other Cities Across the Country

   Using public information searches, CUNY ISLG will build a database of compensation levels among elected officials in large cities across the country. This may include:

   • Analysis of how compensation has changed since 2016 for elected officials in other large cities across the country
   • Summary of the mechanism used to set compensation for elected officials in other cities across the country and how often compensation changes occur
   • Analysis of elected official compensation relative to local cost of living
     
     

4. Analysis of Income and Cost of Living in New York City and Other Cities Across the Country

   CUNY ISLG will compile various income and cost of living measures for New York City and the largest cities across the country. This may include:

   • Analysis of cost of living for different types of households (e.g., single-person households; households with children)
   • Analysis of income measures including median household income
   • Analysis of real income trends over time (controlling for inflation)
     
     

5. Other Related Topics of Interest to the Commission

   Additional areas of research may arise over the course of this engagement. Given the short time frame of this project, CUNY ISLG and the Commission will weigh the importance of additional research requests relative to outstanding items.