Fullerton City Councilmember Compensation: Why Not Fully Disclosed?

According to the city website Fullerton councilmembers receive $750 per month ($9000/per year) in compensation for attending twice a month council meetings. That compensation is paid whether or not meetings are scheduled, canceled, or skipped by councilmembers. For instance, five meeting dates for 2026 (Jan 7, July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1, & Nov 3) were canceled on 12/16/2025 in a 3-2 vote – (Yes, Jung, Dunlap, Valencia (Zahra & Charles opposed).

The $9000 per year figure is not the full story of compensation as it leaves out health, retirement, and other benefits paid out – plus compensation to councilmembers for representing the city at regional agency meetings including OCWD, OCPA, OCTA, and OCSD that offer multi-thousands to boardmembers per year. See lists below with information sourced from the State of California Controller website on public pay through 2024. ( https://publicpay.ca.gov)

Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the money various Fullerton City Councilmembers are receiving for attending meetings. But then, why not put the actual total compensation before the public in a transparent way? And where is the accounting on what exactly is being decided on these boards in our name? Why shouldn’t the actions taken and the benefits, board stipends and other perks received by each councilmember be publicly disclosed?

For instance, would taxpayers be interested that the city paid nearly $30,000 in stipend and benefits to one councilmember in 2024? Or that one council member received over $65,000 as the city representative on the OCWD board in the same year?  These are not anomalies but appear to be business as usual.  Why claim council compensation is $750 a month when it is much more?

Fullerton City Council positions are non-partisan and part-time. The council acts in directing policy, as oversight on city operations, and as a liaison between residents and the professional staff who run the city. Over the years some of those elected have had career experience or vision helpful to the position of directing our city staff –  but there are no experience-related or educational requirements. Any resident can run for office and if elected – serve.

And there is sometimes a wide disparity in how individuals handle the position.  While some councilmembers take the time to read the backup material provided by staff prior to each council meeting and ask pertinent questions – others appear clueless having never read up on the issues on which they are expected to decide. Some are receptive and take action on concerns brought to them by the public – while others are dismissive. Some spend time (even while juggling full-time careers and family responsibilities) to attend and participate in local functions and events in the city with no extra compensation – while others are absent or known for popping in and leaving directly after the photo-op. Some elected to council have a goal to improve the city while some use the position as a stepping stone to higher office or for other personal gain.

Whatever.  Fullerton residents deserve a full accounting of actions being taken on our behalf at regional boards and to know the full scope of what is being paid to councilmembers through our tax dollars.

Fullerton Council Pay & Perks 2025-2019

Year 2024/2025 Source: City of Fullerton Public Records Request
• https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/departments/city-clerk/public-records-information

NOTE: The Observer asked the city for the total annual compensation of each councilmember including benefits and stipends and received the following redacted listings for 2024 and 2025. It does not seem to agree with the California State Controller information (compare the city account for year 2024 with the State Controller figures for year 2024 below). There may be a simple commonsense explanation for the discrepancy – but to date no one at city hall has been able to answer questions about the information.

2025/ Fullerton City Council REDACTED / Source:  City of Fullerton

2025/First 8 months of City of Fullerton Employee Pay statement. (1/1/25-9/9/25)

2024/ Fullerton City Council pay REDACTED  / Source:  City of Fullerton
====== Compare
2024/ Fullerton City Council pay  / Source: California State Controller 

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Years 2019-2024 Councilmember Pay & Perks Paid by City of Fullerton
Source: California State Controller:
(information submitted by each public employer.)  https://publicpay.ca.gov/
California Transparent: • https://transparentcalifornia.com/

2024
•Jung:  $29,403
(includes $4,200 other pay; $15,866 health/dental/vision;  & $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Dunlap:  $18,961
(includes $2,100 other pay; $7,524 health/dental/vision;  & $338 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Whitaker: $10,736 
(includes $1,350 other pay; $386 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Zahra: $10,736
(includes $1,350 other pay; $386 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Charles: $9,337 
(includes $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Valencia: $218 (elected Nov. 2024)

2023
•Jung: $25,378
(includes $9000 reg pay; $175 other pay; $15,866 health/dental/vision; & $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Dunlap: $17,720
(includes $9000 reg pay; $175 other pay; $8,208 health/dental/vision;  & $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Zahra: $10,686
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 other pay; & $386 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Whitaker: $10,686
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 in other pay; Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Charles: $9,337
(includes $9000 reg pay; & $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)

2022
•Jung: $24,894
(includes $9000 reg pay;  $15,868 health/dental/vision; & $26 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Silva: $10,909
(includes $8,689 reg pay; $1300 other pay;  $549 health/dental /vision; $371 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Whitaker: $10,686
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $386 in benefits)
•Zahra: $10,686
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $386 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Dunlap: $9,337
(includes $9000 reg pay; & $337 Deferred Compensation/Defined)
•Charles: $324 (Elected Nov 2022)

2021
•Jung: $25,899
(includes $9000 reg pay; and $16,899 in benefits)
•Whitaker: $12,062
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1100 other pay; and $1,962 in benefits)
•Silva: $11,412
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $1,112 in benefits)
•Zahra: $10,835
(includes $9000 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $535 in benefits)
•Dunlap: $9,468
(includes reg pay and $468 in benefits)

2020
•Whitaker: $21,323
(includes $9345 reg pay; and $11,978 in benefits)
•Silva: $11,829
(includes $9345 reg pay; $1350 other pay; and $1,134 in benefits)
•Zahra: $11,253
(includes reg pay; $1350 other pay; and $556 in benefits)
•Flory: $10,743
(includes $8722 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $721 in benefits)
•Fitzgerald: $10,543
(includes $8722 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $521 in benefits)
•Jung: $1,379  (elected Nov 2020)
•Dunlap:  $693 (elected Nov 2020)

2019
•Whitaker: $18,920
(includes $8999 reg pay; $350 other pay; and $9,571 in benefits)
•Silva: $11,412
(includes $8999 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $1,113 in benefits)
•Zahra: $10,836
(includes $9001 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and  $535 in benefits)
•Fitzgerald: $10,834
(includes $8999 reg pay; $1300 other pay; and $535 in benefits)
•Flory: $9,641
(includes $7926 reg pay; $1100 other pay; and $615 in benefits)

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Regional Boardmember Pay

Sources: California State Controller
•   https://publicpay.ca.gov/Reports/Cities/City.aspx?entityid=295&year=2023&rpt=5
•   https://publicpay.ca.gov/Reports/SpecialDistricts/

The Fullerton City Council majority appoints councilmembers to represent the city on regional boards.

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OCWD  (Orange County Water District)
Sources:
• https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2024/orange-county-water-district/
• gcc.sco.ca.gov

Meets 1st & 3rd Wed at OCWD Boardroom, Fountain Valley) plus committees)
Fred Jung appointed 2025-2028 (No alternate) (2025 info awaiting Public Records Request)

2024
•Whitaker: $65,706 
(includes regular pay plus $27,670 in benefits)
2023
•Whitaker: $60,412 
(includes regular pay  plus $23,525 in benefits)
2022
•Whitaker: $56,759 
(includes regular pay plus $22,425 in benefits)
2021
•Whitaker: $45,370 
(includes regular pay of $28,635 and $16,735 in benefits)
•Zahra: $11,714 
(includes regular pay plus $3,314 in benefits)
2020
•Zahra: $52,016 
(includes regular pay plus and $16,016 in benefits)
2019
•Whitaker: $19,008 (includes regular pay plus $7,776 in benefits)
•Zahra: $32,814 (includes regular pay plus $9,150 in benefits)
2018
•Whitaker: $55,766 
(includes regular pay plus $22,746 in benefits)
2017
•Whitaker: $37,447 
(includes regular pay plus $14,997 in benefits)
2016
•Flory: $18,685 
(includes regular pay plus $3,685 in benefits)

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority 2017-2024
(Bruce Whitaker appointed through OCWD)

2024 •Whitaker: $11,670
2023 •Whitaker: $11,220
2022 •Whitaker: $11,260

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OCPA (Orange County Power Authority)
(Sources: https://gcc.sco.ca.gov/Reports/Department.aspx?departmentid=348491&year=2024)

Meets on 2nd Monday of each month in Irvine & other meetings scheduled as needed.
According to OCPA policy #005 unless amended by the board – boardmembers are paid $315 per meeting up to six meetings per month (Board, Standing Committee, Ad Hoc Committee, any Joint Gov board, committee or association if appointed to be the board’s representative, any meetings with regional, state or national representatives, conferences, seminars, ceremonial events, nonprofit,  agencies or clubs including phone conferences.) IRS Per Diem rate for reimbursement for transportation, lodging, meals and tips for OCPA-approved trips or events (…”provided that in no instance shall the per meeting or per day compensation be less than the compensation provided to directors of the Orange County Sanitation District.”).

Fred Jung appointed thru Jan 2027 (alternate Shana Charles) (2025 info awaiting Public Records Request)

2024 •Jung: $20,700
2023 •Jung: $14,450
2022 •Jung: $10,625 

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OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority)
Source: OCTA Public Records Request
Meets 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month at OCTA headquarters in Orange.
Boardmembers are paid $100 per meeting (up to $500 per month if serving on related committees) plus reimbursed for mileage.  OCTA does not offer board members other perks such as health insurance, retirement, etc.

Fred Jung  (No alternate)
2025: $7,477
2024: $7,312
2023: $6,045

OCTA:Director_Jung_Compensation

2024/2023/2022 OCTA board compensation Fullerton representative Jung

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OCSD (Orange County Sanitation District)
(Source: https://gcc.sco.ca.gov/)

Meets every 4th Wed at OCSD Boardroom, Fountain Valley
$315 per meeting plus mileage (maximum 6 meetings per month). Chair may be compensated for up to 10 meetings per month.) Plus Deferred Compensation/Defined Contribution (401, 403, 457 plans). & life insurance benefits.

Jamie Valencia appointed Jan 2025 (alternate Shana Charles)

2025
•Valencia $4,410 (estimated for attending 14 meetings);
•Charles (alternate) $315 (estimated 1 meeting)

2024
•Whitaker: $7,909  •Nick Dunlap (alternate)

2023
•Whitaker: $6,253 •Nick Dunlap (alternate)

2022
•Silva: $6,800  •Nick Dunlap (alternate)

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OCVCD (OC Vector Control District)
(Source: https://www.ocvector.org/ & FPPC Form 806)

Meets on 3rd Thurs of each month at OCVCD headquarters in Garden Grove.
Members are appointed and serve a two to four-year term and are provided $100 per monthly meeting attended in lieu of travel expenses.

Shana Charles 2024-2027 (no alternate)

2025: $1200 (year estimated )
2024: $1200 (year estimated )
2023: $1200 (year estimated )

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