Compton commissioners debate larger pay and benefit cuts for councilors; staff flags budget and CalPERS costs

Committee members spent a substantial portion of the June 15 meeting debating Section 504, which governs compensation for the mayor and city council.

Several commissioners proposed dropping car and cellphone stipends and lifetime medical and dental benefits in exchange for a higher monthly compensation package. One commissioner proposed a monthly stipend of $3,000 for the mayor and councilors; others urged that any pay be set by comparison to similar cities. "$600 a month makes it very hard for other people to run and sustain a household," one commissioner said while advocating higher pay and, separately, a possible move to full-time council positions.

Staff cautioned that restructuring compensation would have budget implications. Assistant City Manager Tamara Benz said the proposed FY 2026–27 budget includes current stipends on PDF page 51, that funds for the charter committee’s continued work were allocated in the non-departmental budget, and that changing compensation could require a budget amendment and increase CalPERS retirement liabilities. Benz recommended that, if the committee adopts a change, the effective date could be July 1, 2027, or tied to the next election winners (for example, those elected in 2028), rather than applied immediately to sitting officials.

Commissioners also proposed accountability measures to accompany any pay changes, including mandatory ethics and financial-disclosure training and clarity on expected office hours or other duties. Several members favored making increases effective only for incoming officeholders rather than retroactively awarding today’s sitting officials higher pay.

No compensation changes were adopted at the meeting. Staff committed to prepare a comparative survey of compensation in nearby cities and to provide a personnel and benefits breakdown for the council, clerk and treasurer in advance of the next meeting.