Charter Amendment on Mayor and Council Salaries
Summary
Voters will decide whether to amend the City Charter to let the council set its own compensation by ordinance — $1,250/month for the Mayor and $1,000/month for councilmembers, with annual adjustments reviewed by the Finance Advisory Committee.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jun 16, 2026.
Impact analysis
If approved, council pay would cost roughly $85,000/year in new compensation.
Future councilmembers would receive regular pay; supporters say it broadens who can serve.
Taxpayers wary of raising elected officials' pay after 38 years at the same rate.
Mentions & discussions (3)
City Council - Jun 16, 2026
Voters will decide whether to amend the City Charter to let the council set its own compensation by ordinance — $1,250/month for the Mayor and $1,000/month for councilmembers, with annual adjustments reviewed by the Finance Advisory Committee.
City Council - Special Meeting - May 26, 2026
Eureka's mayor and council haven't had a raise since 1988, but charter cities can't raise elected officials' pay without voter approval. The council is moving a charter amendment toward the November 3, 2026 ballot. A resident questioned whether the true cost of council compensation is far higher than advertised.
City Council - Apr 21, 2026
Council pay has been frozen at $500/month (and $625 for the Mayor) for 38 years because the Charter locks it in. The proposed amendment would let the Council set pay by ordinance — $1,000 and $1,250 — with COLA raises capped at 5%. It needs a second hearing and voter approval; nothing was adopted yet.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
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