1400 K Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814 • 916.658.8200 • calcities.org
June 14, 2023
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 329 (Dodd) Cities: City Council Members: Compensation.
Request for Signature
Dear Governor Newsom,
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) requests your signature on SB 329 (Dodd), which would allow general law cities to adjust council member salaries for inflation. The Legislature has not raised the base pay amounts for City Councilmembers since 1984. SB 329 is a long overdue measure that would allow for city councils to increase council salaries to catch up to the present economic reality while also ensuring local government salary transparency.
Existing law sets a pay schedule that must be approved by the City Council through an ordinance or by the voters as a ballot measure. These amounts are determined by the population size of a city and set by state law. The lowest tier is cities up to 35,000 in population, with compensation up to three hundred dollars ($300) per month. The highest tier is cities with over 250,000 population, up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per month.
However, these amounts have not been adjusted since 1984 despite significant increases in the cost of living.
Lengthy time commitments and limited pay discourage many, especially low-income residents, single parents, people of color, and young people, from running for public office.
For many, being a council member is a full-time commitment with part-time pay.
Cal Cities is proud to sponsor this important legislation that lessens barriers for those interested in governing at the local level. This overdue reform is another tool cities can choose to use that can help ensure our city councils are reflective of the residents who live, work, and play in their communities.
For these reasons, Cal Cities requests your signature on SB 329 (Dodd). If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at (916) 658-8214.
Sincerely,
Johnnie Pina
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
cc: The Honorable Senator Bill Dodd
Christy Bouma, Legislative Affairs Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom Ronda Paschal, Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom