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Irvine City Council members are expected to discuss their monthly stipend during Tuesday night’s meeting — a discussion that could see the current compensation amount increase by nearly four times.
Currently, Irvine City Council members are compensated $880 each month for serving on the council. That amount was set in 2009.
According to the staff report included with the agenda, the council could increase the monthly stipend to as much as $3,308 per month.
“Given the significant growth in Irvine’s population and the associated complexity of issues, services, and operations, and given the recent expansion of the City Council, now is an appropriate time for City Council consideration of an update to City Council compensation that matches the amount authorized by State law,” reads the staff report.
In June 2023, California enacted Senate Bill 329, which allows city council compensation adjustments based on city population size while accounting for inflation. It’s the first time the state has greenlit this kind of salary cap increase since 1984.
For example, council members in cities with a population of more than 250,000 can make up to $3,200 a month under the law. In cities with a population of 155,000 to 250,000, officials can make up to $2,550 a month.
More than 300,000 people live in Irvine, according to 2020 census data.
If approved, the increase will go into effect after the scheduled April 2025 special election to fill the current council vacancy.
If the maximum increase is approved, it would increase the annual compensation for each city council member from $10,560 to $39,696, according to the staff report. Combined, the compensation for all city council members would increase from $73,920 to $277,872.
Although Irvine City Council members receive $880 in monthly base pay, there are thousands of dollars in benefit costs for each council member.
According to the council’s 2023 payment data, Councilmember Larry Agran — who is now serving as mayor — was compensated $8,580 from an auto allowance, $14,787 from insurance premiums and $1,650 in pension costs during 2023, the latest available data from the city.
During the same year, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder was compensated $8,580 from an auto allowance, $0 from insurance premiums and $1,655 from pension costs.
A second vote at a following meeting will be required to finalize the increase if it’s approved on first reading Tuesday night.
No city council members returned calls Monday morning.
Increasing Council Compensation Across OC
Compensation for elected officials varies across Orange County, with county supervisors getting six-figure compensation packages, Anaheim council members making $1,500 each month and council members in Placentia making $150 monthly.
[Read: How Much Should the Public Pay Local Politicians?]
In Santa Ana, residents voted down a ballot measure that would have increased council member pay by nearly seven times — a move that would have transitioned the city from electing part-time officials to full-time city council members.
The ballot measure — dubbed Measure FF — failed in November with 73.8% of voters casting their vote against the salary increase.
Approximately 54,000 voters cast ballots against the measure, while about 19,000 voters supported the increase.
[Read: Is it Really Time For Full-Time Politicians in Santa Ana?]
In October, Fountain Valley council members voted to more than double their monthly stipend from $500 to $1,200. It came after the city attorney estimated that the council gives about 30 hours of “volunteer time” each week to serve on the council.
[Read: Fountain Valley City Council’s Pay Gets Doubled]
Last February, Brea elected officials increased their compensation to $824 per month to go into effect in 2025. The increase — less than $200 total — was meant to adjust for inflation.
The Irvine City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at Tuesday at 4 p.m. for closed session and 5 p.m. for the regular meeting.
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
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