{"id":508636,"date":"2026-10-26T18:58:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T18:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/508636\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T18:58:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T18:58:08","slug":"oakland-mayor-wants-to-give-city-councilmembers-108k-pay-raises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/508636\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland mayor wants to give city councilmembers $108K pay raises"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oakland has an illegal dumping epidemic, high crime<\/a>, a homelessness crisis that has doubled over the last decade, and other strained services due to its structural budget deficit.<\/p>\n

And yet, the city\u2019s mayor wants to reward her fellow politicians with a pay raise.<\/p>\n

Oakland city councilmembers could get a $108,000 pay and benefits bump<\/a> under Measure EE, which is backed by Mayor Barbara Lee<\/a>. It would give City Hall\u2019s top elected official more control over the city while opening the door to substantial compensation increases for the eight-member council.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Oakland city councilmembers could get a $108,000 pay and benefits bump, which is backed by Mayor Barbara Lee. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oakland has an illegal dumping epidemic, high crime, a homelessness crisis that has doubled over the last decade. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag<\/p>\n

The proposal comes as Oakland\u2019s previous mayor Sheng Thao is on trial for an alleged pay-to-play corruption scheme.<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s dysfunction prompted Lee and supporters outside City Hall to push for the reforms \u2014 but little attention has been paid to the pay and benefits hike, which could climb to roughly $256,500 per councilmember, according to an Oakland Report analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s dysfunction prompted Mayor Lee and supporters outside of City Hall to push for the reforms. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s homeless population has roughly doubled since 2015, rising from 2,191 to 4,410 in 2026. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s campaign selling Measure EE to voters has largely omitted these details. Lee\u2019s office did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

Councilmembers currently earn a base salary of $114,243. Oakland Report estimated their annual compensation at about $148,500 when benefits are included.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mayor Lee\u2019s campaign selling Measure EE to voters has largely omitted the pay-raise details. ISI Photos<\/p>\n

The proposal to give a raise to councilmembers comes as Oakland continues to deal with a public corruption scandal. Getty Images<\/p>\n

City Auditor Michael Houston projects additional salary and benefit costs of $36,000 to $108,000 per member, with the council\u2019s combined first-year increase reaching as much as $867,000.<\/p>\n

Oakland Report found the Yes on EE campaign\u2019s website, frequently asked questions and supporting ballot arguments did not mention the projected raises, instead emphasizing accountability and making council service a full-time job.<\/p>\n

Voters rejected a parcel tax in June that would have raised about $34 million annually. Without the money, city officials anticipated freezing vacant positions and closing roughly 190 homeless shelter beds.<\/p>\n

Without the money, city officials anticipated freezing vacant positions and closing roughly 190 homeless shelter beds. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag<\/p>\n

Streets remain a cleanup challenge, as crews hauled 1,701 tons of illegally dumped material in August and September. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s homeless population has roughly doubled since 2015, rising from 2,191 to 4,410 in 2026, according to city records and Alameda County\u2019s point-in-time count \u2014 despite a nearly 20% decline over the past two years.<\/p>\n

City streets remain a cleanup challenge, as crews hauled away 1,701 tons of illegally dumped material in August and September alone. That represented a 46% increase over the same period last year as additional equipment and funding helped workers tackle the backlog, according to a city report.<\/p>\n

The proposal comes as Oakland\u2019s previous mayor Sheng Thao is on trial for an alleged pay-to-play corruption scheme. AP<\/p>\n

The proposal to give a raise to councilmembers comes as Oakland continues to deal with an embarrassing public corruption scandal<\/a>. Thao, her longtime partner and two executives tied to the city\u2019s recycling contractor are all standing trial.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors allege Thao promised favorable treatment for businesses controlled by David Duong and his son, Andy Duong, in exchange for political mailers and a promise of $300,000 paid to her partner, Andre Jones. All four have pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

Homelessness in the Bay Area\u2019s Oakland has been a challenge for a number of years. Gado via Getty Images<\/p>\n

With that mess remaining in the headlines, Measure EE would scrap the existing restriction that caps council salary increases at 5% every two years.<\/p>\n

Starting in 2027, the Public Ethics Commission would instead set compensation using comparisons with full-time councilmembers and county supervisors in California jurisdictions it selects. The measure sets no specific salary and no dollar ceiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Supporters argue that paying councilmembers for full-time work would make elected office more accessible to people without personal wealth or outside income. The ballot question discloses the proposed change in salary-setting rules.<\/p>\n

A view shows a homeless encampment on a street in West Oakland, 2023. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The bigger overhaul would shift power toward the mayor, granting Lee authority over most city departments and veto power over legislation and individual budget items. Overriding a veto would require six council votes.<\/p>\n

Councilmembers would gain oversight tools and an independent budget and legislative analyst\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

Even getting the proposal onto the ballot required Lee\u2019s intervention, when she broke a 4\u20134 council deadlock in June.<\/p>\n

The full package would add an estimated $2 million to $2.6 million in first-year costs \u2014 another expense for a city already struggling to pay its bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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