The pitch to bring Amazon's second headquarters to Newark got another boost on Wednesday -- worth about $1 billion.

Newark City Council approved a payroll tax exemption for any corporate headquarters that intends to create 30,000 jobs in the city and invest $3 billion over 20 years. The corporation would be exempt from paying the 1 percent payroll tax for employees who live in Newark and would pay 50 percent of the tax for other company workers.

The waiver is capped at $1 billion.

Council members voted without any discussion or public explanation but the move would clearly benefit Amazon, which has plans to bring 50,000 jobs to its new location.

Mayor Ras Baraka praised the vote and said it brought the city "a giant step closer to being Amazon's choice for HQ2."

The city already waives the payroll tax for companies that employ more than 50 percent local workers.

The council also acted to create a fast-track for land use and permit approvals for transformative projects like Amazon. Gov. Phil Murphy will have to authorize the move through an executive order.

Newark's application to Amazon that detailed its local tax break was entirely redacted when released publicly but city officials previously promised $2 billion in tax incentives to lure the retail behemoth HQ2. This approval makes official half of that promise.

Former Gov. Chris Christie already signed off on $5 billion in state tax breaks in January.

The council will also consider allowing corporate headquarters that promise 30,000 jobs and $3 billion in investment to qualify for a long-term tax abatement for up to $1 billion.

"I am proud to stand by the strong leadership of Mayor Baraka and all who are speaking in a clear and unified voice that Newark is ready to lead and win the Amazon bid," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Wednesday. "Let there be no doubt: we are all in this together and Newark will continue to rise as one."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.