Toronto city councillors should see their annual pay rise next Jan. 1 by 12.9 per cent, to $119,025, to bring them in line with their counterparts in other municipalities. But in an election year, council members on both sides of the political spectrum say that kind of a hike is unlikely.

Council policy is to set council members’ pay based on salaries being paid in 16 so-called comparator municipalities. By that measure, Mayor Rob Ford’s pay would rise by 12.7 per cent, bringing it to $200,013 from $177,499. (Ford’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment but the mayor has traditionally opposed pay hikes for politicians.)

The Toronto council policy, however, has not been followed in practice. Left-leaning councillor Joe Mihevc believes a better way would be to hand the issue over to an objective third party.

“I think councillors are pretty hesitant to opine on our salary because it seems so self-interested,” Mihevc said. “I don’t think it should be in our hands.”

For 2014, Toronto’s 44 councillors will earn $105,397. Mississauga councillors who also serve on the Peel Region council earn a combined $133,078; those in Markham, $122,908.

With municipal elections looming Oct. 27, not many councillors will be supporting a double-digit pay hike, said Councillor Frank Di Giorgio, chair of the budget committee.

“I predict Toronto is going to stay where we’re at,” Di Giorgio said. “The common (public) reaction is the job pays what it pays and those who are not happy with what it pays can look elsewhere.”

Mihevc said compensation specialists could be brought in and given the authority to set pay. “Many of us didn’t come here for the salary, and yet we’re caught in this crazy situation of having to decide on something where it is clear that we have a self interest,” he said.

The pay report is included on the April 23 executive committee agenda and will move on to full council in May.

“My hope is we find a way to cede the decision to an objective third party, and I’m happy to live with whatever they decide,” Mihevc said.

Councillor Paula Fletcher said she supports keeping the pay at current levels, with annual inflation adjustments, as is now the case.

“A lot of people are hurting out there, and I think when they see politicians thinking they’re going to give themselves a lot of extra money, that bothers them,” Fletcher said.

“I don’t want to be running after more money. That’s not why I’m here.”