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City approves two-year 3% salary-range increases for unrepresented staff and executives; cost ~ $1.1M over two years
Summary
The City Council adopted two companion items to increase salary ranges for unrepresented miscellaneous employees and at-will executives by 3% on July 1, 2026 and again July 1, 2027. City staff estimated a combined fiscal impact of just over $1.1 million across two years; council members cited retention and budget forecasting as reasons to act. Public commenters raised concerns about hiring transparency.
The San Ramon City Council voted unanimously on June 23 to approve across-the-board 3% salary-range increases for unrepresented miscellaneous employees and for unrepresented executive positions, effective July 1, 2026 and again July 1, 2027.
Human Resources project manager Megan O'Donoghue told the council the unrepresented miscellaneous group includes roughly 142 employees in a wide range of classifications. "We have about 142 employees who are considered unrepresented miscellaneous employees," she said, and the proposed change would raise pay ranges by 3% in each of the next two fiscal years to remain competitive in the labor market and avoid compaction with represented groups.
O'Donoghue said the two-year cost is roughly $1.1 million (about $442,000 in the coming fiscal year and $671,000 in 2027‑28), which includes ancillary benefit increases such as pension obligations as salaries rise. Finance staff told the council current operating budgets can absorb the first-year impact and that departments will petition for mid-year adjustments if necessary.
Councilmembers framed the vote as a retention and budgeting decision. Several said predictable, limited increases make forecasting and talent retention easier than repeating periodic market studies. "When we don't compete on compensation, then we end up losing our top talent," one councilmember said.
Public commenters raised broader concerns about hiring and contracting practices; one speaker alleged the city had engaged in questionable hiring and procurement, a claim the city manager disputed, telling the council the job in question had been publicly posted. The council adopted Resolution 2026‑094 (unrepresented miscellaneous) and Resolution 2026‑095 (executives) on unanimous votes.
What happens next: staff will implement the salary-range adjustments effective July 1 and monitor budget impacts at mid-year; council asked departments to continue tracking recruitment and retention metrics.
