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Camarillo council approves 3% increase for 2027 and adds waiver language; staff to draft CPI option for 2028
Summary
Council unanimously approved adding explicit waiver language allowing members to decline all or part of salary increases and adopted a 3% increase effective January 1, 2027, while directing staff to draft a CPI-based option for potential use in 2028.
The Camarillo City Council on June 24 adopted language to clarify that any council member may, at their sole discretion, decline all or part of any salary increase by submitting a written waiver to the Human Resources director, and approved a 3% increase for 2027 with a plan to evaluate a Consumer Price Index (CPI) option for 2028.
Vice Mayor Martinez Bravo proposed making the waiver explicit in the ordinance to ensure transparency. "Any council member may at their sole discretion decline to receive all or any portion of the salary or salary increase authorized by this ordinance by submitting a written waiver to the city clerk," she said when proposing language (the council clarified the declination will be processed through Human Resources). Members discussed whether future adjustments should be a fixed percentage or pegged to CPI; Council member Kildy recommended a 3% increase for each of two years as a practical approach.
City Attorney Rachel and staff advised that state law (Government Code §36516) permits either a percentage up to 5% or inflation-based adjustments not to exceed 10% per year and that an ordinance must be adopted prior to a municipal election for the adjustment to take effect. Council resolved to adopt a 3% increase effective January 1, 2027, include the waiver provision, and direct staff and the city attorney to return with draft CPI-based language for consideration to apply beginning in 2028 if desired.
The motion passed on a recorded roll-call vote with all members voting yes. Council members emphasized the value of broadening access to public office and noted that the waiver preserves individual choice about receiving compensation.
