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The following is a guest opinion from Kati Moulton, Ward 2 representative on the Eureka City Council.

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When I first ran for Eureka City Council in 2020, someone in a voter forum asked if I thought the salary for councilmembers was fair. I had no idea. My motivation to run was a passion for public service. Then I learned that the pay hasn’t changed since the 1990s. City Council makes $500 a month and the Mayor makes $625. Thirty years ago, that was reasonable pay for a part time job. Today it is not even close. With California minimum wage at $16.90 per hour, even a 20-hour-a-week job would be around $1,300 a month.

Does the City Council of Eureka deserve a raise? I don’t think that’s the right question. The question is: Who do the people of Eureka want doing this job? The ward I serve is full of working families. Every dollar matters, every working hour matters. If the job of councilmember doesn’t even pay minimum wage, most of the people in my neighborhood couldn’t afford to do it. Is it right for a city where at least half of households qualify as “low income” to exclude so many potential candidates?

Should politicians be able to give themselves a raise whenever they want? No. I think that would have too much potential for abuse and would harm the public’s trust in their representatives. That’s why, after the initial increase, Measure H would base cost-of-living salary raises on the recommendation of the Finance Committee and impose a 5% cap per year. The independent committee can approve between a 0% and 5% raise for elected officials to vote on based on the current budget.

Why hasn’t the pay changed for so long? Because the actual salary amount for councilmembers and the mayor is written into the City Charter, which can only be changed by a ballot measure. In 30 years, no politician has stuck their neck out to try to make the case for fair pay. I get that. Talking about income is uncomfortable at best. Asking for a raise when people are struggling could seem greedy or out of touch. Well, I am halfway through serving my second term, and because of term limits I cannot run again any time soon. I have nothing to lose from asking the community to consider this change, but Eureka has much to gain.

Measure H is fiscally responsible with solid guard rails, and the financial impact on the City is a fraction of a percent of the total budget. For so many potential future leaders, a few hundred dollars a month could make the difference between being able to afford to serve our community and not.

Eureka deserves options for council and mayor who understand what everyday Eurekans go through to stay afloat. Vote Yes on H!

Kati Moulton

Eureka City Council, Ward Two