Committee forwards raises for assembly and mayor stipend increase, sets caps and effective date

The Civic Affairs committee reviewed proposed changes to elected-official compensation and voted to forward the package to the full assembly after adopting several amendments.

Assemblymember Potter noted current pay is $125 per meeting and the mayor receives $1,000 per month and said the proposal is not motivated by personal gain. "We're currently at a $125 per meeting, and the mayor gets 1000," Potter said. The draft proposed raising assembly pay to $175 per meeting and the mayor’s stipend to $1,275 per month, with changes staged to take effect on Jan. 1, 2028.

Members debated safeguards to limit compensation in months with numerous meetings. Proposals to cap monthly pay ranged from $500 to $700; Potter successfully moved an amendment setting the monthly cap at $700 so a member would not be financially disadvantaged in a heavy-meeting month. Assemblymember Morgan moved the primary compensation language and explained the salary and cap mechanics in the motion.

The committee approved the amended compensation language by voice vote. Members also approved a motion to set the mayor’s stipend at $1,275 per month and to protect that stipend from reduction during the mayor’s term. On timing, the committee discussed whether a 2027 or 2028 effective date better matched the policy intent and voted to make the ordinance effective Jan. 1, 2028.

Recognizing future administrative work, the committee asked staff to draft clear code language to implement modest annual per-meeting increases (staff were asked to draft a $10-per-meeting annual increase example and a $40-per-month annual cap increase) and to include a mechanism for the assembly to revisit the ordinance every five years. The compensation package and staff notes will be forwarded to the assembly for consideration at first reading.