Council Expense Reimbursement &
Compensation Review
Agenda Item 12.F
Jorge Garcia, Assistant City Manager
Meeting Date: June 21, 2022
Expense Reimbursement
AB 1234 (Salinas, 2005):
•Permits expense reimbursements for public officials if:
•Actual and necessary expenses
•Incurred in performance of public duty
•Substantiated by receipts
•Requires adoption of a written policy identifying reimbursable expenses and amounts •Generally prohibits proactive payments to offset estimated expenses •Certain exceptions exist, e.g. automobile allowance
Expense Reimbursement
Current non-travel expense reimbursement practice for
Council Members:
•Telephone service costs of up to $55 per month
•Internet service costs of up to $40 per month
•Miscellaneous expenses (mileage, office supplies, etc.) of up to $150 per month
•Travel -related expense reimbursement is separately
covered by Purchasing Policy
Compensation (Salary)
•Requires adoption of an ordinance
•Ordinance becomes effective after next election
•Government Code allows salary increase up to 5% per
year from last increase
•Last increase in 2018
•Current salary amounts:
•$772.20 –Council Member
•$1,072.20 –Mayor (Additional $300 defined by PBMC)
Compensation (Salary)
•Available increase in 2022: Any amount up to 20%
•Example options:
•Figures include all seven cities in SLO County
Increase
from
Current
Council
Member Salary
Mayor Salary
(total)
Compared to
Median
(Council)
Compared to
Average
(Council)
Rank
1 = highest
7 = lowest
(Council)
0%$772.20 $1,072.20 +$52.20 -$132.11 3
5%$810.81 $1,110.81 +$90.81 -$93.50 3
10%$849.42 $1,149.42 +$129.42 -$54.89 3
15%$888.03 $1,188.03 +$168.03 -$16.28 3
20% (max)$926.64 $1,226.64 +$206.64 +$22.33 3
Policy Questions
•Direction on amending current expense reimbursement amounts:
•Telephone service: Up to $55 per month
•Internet service: Up to $40 per month
•Miscellaneous expenses: Up to $150 per month
•Direction on creating an automobile allowance program:
•Each Council Member would execute an agreement
•Allowance paid at start of each month
•Curtails eligibility for mileage reimbursement under travel policies •Direction on preparation of compensation (salary) ordinance:
•Any amount up to 20% increase
•Effective after certification of November 2022 election •Staff would return to Council for further action at next available meeting
Questions?