LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA
CITIES
January 9, 2026
MEMORANDUM
To: City Managers and City Clerks
From: League of California Cities CEO/Executive Director Carolyn Coleman Subject: 2026 League of California Cities Membership Dues Invoice Thank you for your city's membership in Cal Cities. We achieved so much together in 2025 by partnering to ensure the strength and resiliency of our diverse cities in the face of our state's difficult economic times. We know your city's financial resources are not unlimited, and we greatly value your city's contribution to ensuring California city leaders and cities are strong today and tomorrow.
Achieving Strong Results
Accompanying your city's 2026 membership dues invoice is the League of California Cities 2025 Annual Report. Together, we proactively advocated for resources and drove policies that were member-informed and grounded in the voices and experiences of cities.
The value and benefits your city gains from belonging to Cal Cities make supporting Cal Cities a wise investment. A customized "Return on Investment" report for your city is also enclosed. This report summarizes the significant financial benefits your city receives as a direct result of Cal Cities' advocacy. As you can see, the value of your participation in Cal Cities is many multiples of the annual dues payment. Equally important, the value of membership provides elected and appointed city officials in your city the ability to engage in meaningful policy discussions, pertinent educational workshops and relevant networking opportunities.
Advancing the Mission
Today, as in 1898 when California cities first came together to protect their common interests, Cal Cities serves as the leading voice for cities across California. Working in concert with 473 member cities, partners, and coalition supporters, protecting and expanding local decision-making through advocacy and education remains the cornerstone of Cal Cities activities.
In 2025, Cal Cities sponsored 15 bills in the State Legislature, the most in recent history; six were signed into law, delivering favorable action for cities on short-term rentals, recovery housing, metal theft, and public murals. Cal Cities led a coalition to ensure Cap and Trade dollars remained available to fund city priorities and effectively lobbied to significantly narrow the local impacts of SB 79 (Wiener) prior to its passage. We overcame well-funded opposition to help ensure passage of a bill that improves cities' ability to capture millions of tax dollars left uncollected each year on short-term rentals, and secured improvements for cities to last year's problematic warehouse bill.
With timely and relevant topics, Cal Cities also welcomed high levels of engagement from city officials at our events and flagship conferences that were hosted in communities around the state and virtually.
In 2026, Cal Cities will again be a vital resource for your community. We look forward to partnering with you to elevate the voice of city leadership through our advocacy in the Legislature and the courts on the following advocacy priorities identified by our members:
• Protect and enhance local revenues and expand economic development tools. • Strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety. • Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.
• Strengthen climate change resilience and disaster preparedness.
Membership Remains Affordable
Under the Cal Cities bylaws, annual membership dues are based on city population as determined by the California Department of Finance.
Balancing the fiscal impact on cities with the key role membership dues play in sustaining Cal Cities' strong operations, the Cal Cities Board authorized a 3% adjustment to the dues schedule for 2026. This decision reflects the Board's commitment to membership while ensuring adequate funding to support Cal Cities' advocacy and educational programs.
Consistent with Board policy, Cal Cities maintains a Litigation Contingency Reserve Account (LCRA), funded through an optional voluntary surcharge set as a percentage of dues. Reviewed annually by the Board, the LCRA covers current-year board-approved litigation expenses and maintains reserves for potential litigation costs in the following year.
Because the LCRA is fully funded, no surcharge is required, and the enclosed invoice reflects a zero surcharge.
California Cities Are Stronger Together
Through Cal Cities, all cities and all city officials have the opportunity to help shape vital solutions to the issues of greatest importance to our cities and the state of California.
On behalf of Cal Cities Officers and Board, I encourage your enthusiastic support of and participation in the League of California Cities during 2026 and beyond. Together, we can build even stronger cities and a more vibrant California.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Cal Cities Chief Financial Officer Steve Maciel at [email protected] or 916.658.8277.
Enclosures: Dues Invoice and Schedule
Membership Benefits
Cal Cities Return on Investment Report
2025 Annual Report
LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA
CITIES
INVOICE
To: City Manager Invoice: INV-45551-
City of Ripon W8N8V5
259 N Wilma Ave
Ripon, CA 95366-3028
Terms: Feb. 28, 2026
Date Description Amount
01/2026 Membership dues for calendar year 2026 $8,237.00 Optional litigation surcharge $0.00
Total Amount $8,237.00
City of Ripon
Official Population: 15,753
2026 Advocacy Priorities
Protect and enhance local revenuess and expand economic development tools.
Strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety.
Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
Our mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians.
Cal Cities Membership - Your Best Investment
www.calcities.org
Please make checks payable to
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
1400 K Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, California 95814-3916
1400 K Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814 916.658.8200 calcities.org League of California Cities
2026 Dues Schedule
2026
For cities having a population of: 2025 Dues Increase 2026 Dues 1 to 500 $92 $3 $94
501 to 600 --- 241 7 248
601 to 700 --- 481 14 495
701 to 800 --- 526 16 542
801 to 900 630 19 649
901 to 1,000 --- 740 22 762
1,001 to 1,250 923 28 951
1,251 to 1,500 1,108 33 1.142
1,501 to 1,750 ... 1,293 39 1,331
1,751 to 2,000 1,478 1,522
2,001 to 2,250 1,662 50 1,712
2,251 to 2,500 1,849 55 1,904
2,501 to 2,750 2,031 61 2,092
2,751 to 3,000 2,218 67 2,284
3,001 to 4,000 2,956 89 3,045
4,001 to 5,000 3,693 111 3,803
5,001 to 7,500 4,985 150 5,135
7,501 to 10,000 5,753 173 5,925
10,00l to 15,000 --- 6,944 208 7,153
15,001 to 20,000 7,997 240 8,237
to 300 10,312
20,001 25,000 --- 10,012
to 30,000 --- 12,022 361 12,383
25,001
30,001 to 40,000 - - - 14,798 444 15,242
40,001 to 50,000 --- 18,004 540 18,545
50,001 to 60,000 --- 20,739 622 21,361
60,001 to 70,000 --- 22,794 684 23,478
70,001 to 80,000 23,943 718 24,662
80,00l to 90,000 25,522 766 6,28
90,001 to 100,000 27,959 839 28,798
100,001 to 125,000 31,888 957 32,844
125,001 to 150,000 ... 35,098 1,053 36,151
150,001 to 200,000 39,893 1.197 41,090
200,001 to 500,000 41,890 1,257 43.147
Plus 1,999 60 2.059
per each full 10,000 of population over 200,001
500,001 to 640,000 --- 101,682 3,050 104,732
Plus 1,847 55 1,902
per each full 10,000 of population over 500,001
Over 640,000 126,699 3,801 130,500
À bylaws provision states that no city's dues may increase by more than $5,000.