Fillmore council directs staff to compile updated total‑compensation comparisons for council stipends

Staff presented constraints under state law and options for council stipend adjustments. The presentation noted Fillmore’s current council stipend of $600 per month, statutory allowance up to $950 per month for a city of Fillmore’s population category, and that the ordinance establishing an increase would take effect only after newly elected members are sworn in.

Council members discussed comparative compensation data for similarly sized cities, whether to offer benefits such as health insurance or retirement, and past local ballot measures (Measure H) that set earlier compensation. One council member asked staff to include total‑compensation comparisons (stipend plus benefits) when they return with updated data. Staff estimated a very rough annual premium cost of about $3,000 per person if the city were to provide health insurance, but cautioned the figure was an approximation.

Council members debated whether to (a) direct staff to research an increase (a $300 monthly increase was discussed as illustrative) or (b) prepare an ordinance to set a higher stipend now. The council reached consensus to ask staff to return with current total‑compensation data for the comparison cities previously provided and updated stipend figures and to outline what an ordinance to increase the stipend would look like, including cost estimates for benefits.