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At a special meeting on Tuesday, the Eureka City Council gave staff the green light to move forward with a proposal that, if approved by voters, would double the monthly salary for elected officials who haven’t seen a pay raise for nearly 40 years. 

Since 1988, the council’s monthly stipend has remained at a static $500, with the mayor earning slightly more at $625 per month. While some municipalities give their elected officials periodic raises to keep up with inflation, Eureka is a charter city, meaning any pay increases for the mayor and council require an amendment to the city’s charter, and any changes to the charter must be approved by voters.

Speaking at Tuesday’s special meeting, City Attorney Robert Black described the council and mayor’s salaries as being “truly out of date.” The American Institute for Economic Research’s Cost of Living Calculator estimates that $500 in 1988 is equal to roughly $1,370 in today’s money, which represents a 174% increase in inflation.

City Attorney Black | Screenshot

“There are cities with a lesser population than you have that are significantly out ahead of the City of Eureka, as far as compensating elected officials,” Black continued. “One approach to a charter amendment would be to basically lift, in their entirety, the provisions of state law and simply incorporate those provisions … [which] would enable a fairly immediate upgrade from $500 a month to $950 a month. … And you could do an annual adjustment of up to 5% as the state law provides.”

The council could also opt to “simply change the numbers” and double its salary without including an annual adjustment. “The problem with that, of course, is 10 years from now, you [will] find yourself in the exact same situation [as today],” Black said.

Councilmember Kati Moulton spoke in favor of implementing a phased, inflation-based pay hike to avoid “some of the negative stigma that comes with voting for your own pay raise.” Still, she felt it was “fair to ask for reasonable compensation for your labor” and said a pay increase could “encourage working class people to participate in local politics.”

Going back to Black’s previous statement about Eureka’s city council making less than councils overseeing smaller cities, Moulton asked for a baseline of salaries. “The tiers are based on city population,” Black explained. “Every city that is below 35,000, which includes all the cities in Humboldt, is able to make $950. When you go above 35,000 [to 100,000], there’s a higher pay level. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s maybe in the $1,300 to $1,500 range.”

Councilmember Leslie Castellano, whose term ends in November, agreed that a wage increase could encourage more working-class people to run for city council. “This will not benefit me at all, but I’m really happy to support future council members,” she said. “I like the idea of the $950 and … I think that I would be fine with the 5% increase starting next year.”

Councilmember Renee Contreras-De Loach expressed concern that a 5% annual increase would push the council and mayor’s salaries “well over inflation within a couple of years.” Councilmember Scott Bauer, on the other hand, spoke in favor of the 5% increase, adding that “there’s a good chance inflation is going to be 8% this year.”

“Why not have the ability to at least get close to that?” Bauer asked. “Right now, it’s probably close to 5[%], and when fuel goes to $200 a barrel, which it’s probably going to do, I think it’s reasonable to have at least a ceiling.”

The council ultimately directed staff to draw up a proposal that would double the council and mayor’s monthly stipends — up to $1,000 and $1,250, respectively — with annual increases to be determined by the city’s Finance Advisory Committee and capped at 5%.

The city will hold two public hearings — tentatively scheduled for April 21 and May 21 — to refine the proposal and come up with a ballot question that will be presented to voters on the November 2026 ballot.