Oakland Mayor Backs Measure for Potential Six-Figure Council Pay Raises Amidst City Woes

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is endorsing a ballot measure that could allow the city's council members to receive substantial pay raises, potentially reaching up to $108,000 annually in addition to their current benefits. The measure, known as EE, is set to appear before voters in November and also proposes to grant the mayor's office more authority.

This proposal emerges as Oakland continues to confront a complex array of challenges, including high crime rates, a significant homelessness epidemic, an ongoing crisis with illegal dumping, and a substantial budget deficit projected to continue through at least 2030. The city is also still recovering from a corruption scandal that led to the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao in 2024, who faced FBI accusations of funneling city contracts in exchange for personal gain.

While Mayor Lee has noted a decrease in crime since its 2023 peak, the city's financial health remains a primary concern, with an estimated annual budget shortfall of up to $130 million.

Measure EE, designed by a group appointed by Lee, aims to streamline city governance by consolidating power within the mayor's office. This includes giving the mayor the ability to hire and fire department heads directly and to veto legislation passed by the city council. Overriding a mayoral veto would require a six-out-of-eight vote from the council.

Supporters argue that the measure will make city council positions a full-time commitment, potentially attracting a more diverse pool of candidates. A key component of the measure involves establishing a new salary formula for council members, determined by the Public Ethics Commission (PEC).

However, the measure's details indicate that the PEC's formula would remove the existing five percent cap on annual salary increases. The formula would compare Oakland council pay to that of council members and county supervisors in comparable California cities and counties. Current council salaries, including benefits, are approximately $148,500, which is the highest per resident among large California cities.

Analysis suggests that if the PEC uses neighboring San Francisco's Board of Supervisors salaries of $175,370 as a benchmark, Oakland council members could see an immediate raise of about 54 percent. Reports from the group that developed Measure EE also suggest that potentially higher-paid councils in cities like Los Angeles (up to $270,000 per member) or San Diego ($185,500) could be used for comparison, though the measure does not mandate this approach.