The City of San Bernardino
Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission
Review of Compensation of Mayor and Councilmembers
Presented by: Andrea E. Russell, Director of Human Resources & Risk Management Background
Mayor and City Councilmember Compensation
The San Bernardino City Charter Article III, Section 305, “Compensation; Expenses” establishes the authority for setting compensation for the Mayor and City Councilmembers. It states as follows:
“Compensation for the Mayor and Council members shall be established by ordinance following a public hearing, giving due consideration to the recommendations of an advisory commission charged with the periodic review of compensation for City-elected officials. Compensation for the Mayor shall be commensurate with that for a full-time position.
No ordinance increasing such salaries shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms of Council members elected at the next regular election. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office.”
Background (Continued)
Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission
The Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission was established by the Mayor and City Council on February 21, 2018 (Ord. MC-1463). This nine-member commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council in making recommendations related to the compensation of city-elected officials.
MAYOR’S COMPENSATION
On July 23, 2018, the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission voted 8-1 in favor of the following recommendation for the Mayor’s salary, effective January 1, 2019. Ord. MC-150 was passed on 10/3/2018 and included the following:
• Establish Mayor’s salary at 50% of the salary of a Superior Court Judge in County of San Bernardino, adjusted and implemented January 1 of each subsequent year. ($102,912 as of 1/1/2019) • Employer benefit contribution tied to Management Employees • Auto Allowance to continue at $725 per month
In response to direction from City Council, the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission was reactivated, and met five times between October 2021 and March 2022. On January 10, 2022 motions to recommend the compensation of the Mayor was continued.
Background (Continued)
MAYOR’S COMPENSATION (Continued)
On February 2, 2022 the Mayor and City Council passed Ord. MC-1571 amending the compensation of the Mayor to appropriately reflect the duties of the office following the 2016 amendment of the City Charter.
Commencing with the certification of the November 2022 election, the Mayor shall receive the following compensation:
• Annual salary of $50,000;
• Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the city to management employees; and • An auto allowance of $725 per month.
The compensation set forth herein shall be paid without regard to the number of City Council meetings attended by the Mayor. The Mayor may waive all or any portion of her or his own compensation. The compensation set forth herein is exclusive of any amounts payable to the Mayor as per day compensation for city business-related travel and further exclusive of any amounts payable to the Mayor for out-of-town attendance on city-related business.
On January 10, 2022 the Commission continued a motion to recommend the compensation of the Mayor.
Background (continued)
COUNCILMEMBER COMPENSATION
As of 10/3/2018, the compensation of City Councilmembers was as follows:
• $14,000/annually
• $500/month automobile allowance
• Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the City to management employees.
The Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission met and reviewed the methodology used to set the 2018 Councilmember salaries on October 13, 2021 Staff was directed to survey the same 12 cities surveyed with part-time councilmembers (Chino, Corona, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside, Victorville, and West Covina).
On January 10, 2022 the Commission continued a motion to recommend the compensation of Councilmembers.
Background (continued)
COUNCILMEMBER COMPENSATION (Continued)
On 11/2/2022, Mayor and City Council passed Ord. MC-1595 amending the compensation of City Councilmembers as follows:
• Annual salary of $37,500;
• Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the city to management employees; • An auto allowance of $725 per month; and
• An annual cost of living adjustment equivalent to that offered by the city to management employees.
The compensation set forth herein shall be paid without regard to the number of City Council meetings attended by the applicable City Council member. Any City Council member may waive all or any portion of her or his own compensation. The compensation set forth herein is exclusive of any amounts payable to a City Council member as per day compensation for city business-related travel and further exclusive of any amounts payable to a City Council member for out-of-town attendance on city-related business.
COMPENSATION DATA
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
FULL-TIME MAYOR SALARY SURVEY FOR CHARTER CITIES
(DATE: 09/2026)
AGENCY CLASS CURRENT 2018 DATA
SAN BERNARDINO MAYOR $50,000.00 $95,805.96
CHULA VISTA MAYOR $180,444.00 $126,464.00
LONG BEACH MAYOR $194,530.00 $142,680.00
OAKLAND MAYOR $132,826.00 $229,228.05
RIVERSIDE MAYOR $98,713.00 $82,761.00
SAN DIEGO MAYOR $245,251.00 $100,464.00
SAN JOSE MAYOR $234,005.00 $128,750.00
Mean: $180,961.50 $135,057.84
Median: $187,487.00 $127,607.00
Commission Recommendation: N/A
Background (continued)
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
PART-TME CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION SURVEY
(DATE: 09/2026)
AGENCY CLASS CURRENT 2021 DATA
SAN BERNARDINO CITY COUNCILMEMBER $42,280.92 $14,000.00 CHINO CITY COUNCILMEMBER $68,765.00 $15,372.00
CORONA CITY COUNCILMEMBER $23,809.00 $9,600.00
FONTANA CITY COUNCILMEMBER $41,917.00 $21,060.00
MORENO VALLEY CITY COUNCILMEMBER $36,240.00 $2,144.00
ONTARIO CITY COUNCILMEMBER $43,893.00 $22,614.00
POMONA CITY COUNCILMEMBER $18,228.00 $9,828.00
RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCILMEMBER $24,644.00 $15,716.00 REDLANDS CITY COUNCILMEMBER $16,800.00 $6,000.00
RIALTO CITY COUNCILMEMBER $23,051.52 $23,051.52
RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCILMEMBER $53,849.00 $41,376.00
VICTORVILLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER $27,931.00 $11,314.56
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCILMEMBER $31,920.00 $9,180.00
Mean: $34,253.96 $15,604.67
Median: $29,925.50 $13,343.28
Commission Recommendation: N/A