PUBLIC HEARING
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: October 21, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Andrea Russell, Director of Human Resources
Department: Human Resources
Subject: Introduction of an Ordinance Adjusting the Salary and Benefits for the Elected Officials
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Review and consider information provided for adjusting the salary and benefits for the positions of Mayor and City Council Member, provide direction for modification, adopt the recommendation from the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission as presented, or receive and file;
2. If decided by the Mayor and City Council, introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC-1675 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary and benefits of the Mayor as recommended by the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission; or
3. If decided by the Mayor and City Council, introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC-1676 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary and benefits of the Mayor and City Council Members considering the recommended by the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission.
City Manager's Comments
The advisory committee recommends an increase to the Mayor’s salary at an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge. No change was made to the City Council compensation as there is a cost of living increase already built into the salary.
Executive Summary
On September 29, 2026 the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission convened to review and discuss the Elected Officials compensation as recommended at the Mayor and City Council meeting on September 2, 2026, to consider options for adjusting the Mayor’s salary, including but not limited to reinstating the Mayor’s salary at an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge; consider tying the Mayor’s salary to the San Bernardino median household income; review the compensation of the City Council and provide direction to staff about further data collection or analysis for the recommended compensation and return with recommendations for consideration at the Mayor and City Council meeting on October 21, 2026.
Background
The San Bernardino City Charter establishes the authority for setting compensation of the Mayor and City Council Members. Specifically, City Charter Article III, Section 305 titled “Compensation; Expenses” states:
“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 Council members shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties of office..”
The Mayor and City Council established the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission on February 21, 2018 (Ordinance MC-1463). The nine-member commission was tasked with serving in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City Council in making recommendations relating to the compensation of city-elected officials. The commission conducts compensation surveys of city-elected officials in other California charter and/or general law cities, reviews Government Code provisions for compensation of city-elected officials and provides compensation recommendations to the Mayor and City Council pursuant to Section 305 of the City Charter. Recently, in response to direction from the City Council, the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission was reactivated. The Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission has met six (6) times since October 2021 (October 13, 2021; November 10, 2021; November 30, 2021; January 10, 2022; March 7, 2022; and September 29, 2026).
The San Bernardino Municipal Code defines the compensation for the Mayor in Section
2.82.010 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code (titled “Compensation of Mayor”), which states:
“Commencing with the certification of the November 2022 election, the Mayor shall receive the following compensation:
1. Annual salary of $50,000;
2. Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the city to management employees; and
3. 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.”
Additionally, the San Bernardino Municipal Code defines the compensation for City Council Members in Section 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code (titled “Compensation of City Council Members”), which states:
“Each City Council Member shall receive the following compensation:
1. Annual salary of $37,500;
2. Employer health benefits contribution equivalent to that offered by the City to management employees; and
3. An auto allowance of $725 per month.
4. 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.”
Discussion
As of 7/6/2026, the annual salary for City Council members is $43,280.92.
This includes annual cost of living increases commensurate with City management employees as follows:
• 2.7% effective 7/16/23 ($38,512.44/yr)
• 2.7% effective 7/16/24 ($39,552.24/yr)
• 3.0% effective 7/16/25 ($40,738.92/yr)
• 2.0% effective 1/16/26 ($43,280.92/yr)
The annual salary of the Mayor has not changed, and remains $50,000.
The Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission met on September 29, 2026 to discuss the compensation and benefits for the Mayor and City Council. The Commission reviewed refreshed data compiled by staff that included the same comparator agencies for the Mayor and City Council as previously utilized.
Regarding mayoral compensation, salary data was collected from the following California cities with full-time mayors:
1. Chula Vista
2. Long Beach
3. Oakland
4. Riverside
5. San Diego
6. San Jose
Commissioners concluded that the current mayoral annual salary is significantly below the average of the 7 cities $50,000 vs. $180,961.50, and took into consideration the location and size of the cities surveyed.
On September 29, 2026, the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission voted 6-2 in favor of the following recommendation for the Mayor’s salary effective January 1, 2027 after one failed substitute motion to table the discussion pending further information from staff:
• Establish the Mayor’s salary at 50% of the salary of a Superior Court Judge in the County of San Bernardino.
• No change to employer benefits currently tied to City management employees.
• No change to Auto Allowance currently set at $725/month.
Regarding City Council compensation, salary data was collected from the following cities:
1. Chino
2. Corona
3. Fontana
4. Moreno Valley
5. Ontario
6. Rancho Cucamonga
7. Redlands
8. Rialto
9. Riverside
10.Victorville
11.West Covina
Commissioners reviewed but did not make any conclusion regarding City Council annual salary, which was above the average of the above cities $43,280.91 vs. $34,253.96.
As outlined in the City of San Bernardino Charter, the City Council has the authority to adjust the compensation package of elected officials by ordinance following a public hearing, while giving due consideration to the recommendations of an advisory commission. At its September 29, 2026 meeting, the Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Commission recommended the following:
Compensation of Mayor:
The Commission voted 6-2 to:
1. Reinstate the annual salary of the Mayor to an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the annual salary of a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge. (Currently $244,727 for a Presiding Judge)
2. No change in employer health benefits, currently equivalent to that offered by the City to management employees; and
3. No change to auto allowance, currently $725/monthly.
Compensation of City Council Members:
The commission voted 6-2 to leave the salary and benefits for City Council as is.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
Reviewing and discussing the salary of the City Council Members aligns with the City’s strategic goal of becoming an Organization of Excellence.
Fiscal Impact
Should Mayor and City Council elect to adopt Ordinance No. MC-1675 the recommendation of the Commission without any changes, the fiscal impact would be approximately $36,182 in FY 2026/27 and $72,364 in FY 2027/28.
Should Mayor and City Council elect to adopt Ordinance No. MC-1676 the recommendation of the Commission without any changes, the fiscal impact would need to be determined.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Review and consider information provided for adjusting the salary and benefits for the positions of Mayor and City Council Member, provide direction for modification, adopt the recommendation from the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission as presented, or receive and file;
2. If decided by the Mayor and City Council, introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC-1675 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary and benefits of the Mayor as recommended by the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission; or
3. If decided by the Mayor and City Council, introduce, read by title only, and waive further reading of Ordinance No. MC-1676 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary and benefits of the Mayor and City Council Members considering the recommended by the Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Proof of Publication
Attachment 2 – Ordinance No. MC-1675 Amending Mayor’s Salary Attachment 3 – Ordinance No. MC-1676 Amending Mayor and City Council Salary Attachment 4 – Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission Staff Presentation (9/29/26)
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
November 2, 2022 Mayor and City Council adopted Ordinance No. MC-1595 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.020 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary and benefits of the City Council Members
February 2, 2022 Mayor and City Council adopted Adopt Ordinance No. MC1571 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, amending Chapter 2.82.010 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code to adjust the salary of the Mayor to $50,000 annually to appropriately reflect the duties of the office following the 2016 amendment of the City Charter
February 21, 2018 The Elected Official Compensation Advisory Commission was established by Ordinance No. MC-1463
CC: Eric Levit, City manager