League of Women Voters of California
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Measure S Mayor and City Council Salary Increase City of Fremont City Ordinance 13149 / 35.2% Yes votes ...... 24168 / 64.8% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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| Results as of Nov 15 4:54pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (117/117) |
| Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||
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Shall an ordinance be adopted that increases the salary of each member of the City Council from $1,407 per month to $2,083 per month and increases the salary of the Mayor from $2,211 per month to $2,916 per month?
The procedure for setting of salaries for Mayor and City Council is set forth in the California Government Code. The Government Code sets a base salary depending on the population of the City. The City Council may raise that salary in an amount equal to 5% per year since the last increase. The increase would not be effective until the new City Council is seated after the following election. The Government Code provides that the City Council may set the salary of the Mayor and does not limit the amount. In the alternative, the Government Code provides that the voters may set the salaries of the Mayor and City Council and does not limit the amount.
A "yes" vote is a vote to approve setting each of the City Council Member's
salary at $2,083 per month ($25,000 annually) and the Mayor's at $2,916 per
month ($35,000 annually).
A "no" vote is a vote to disapprove Measure S and retain each City Council
Member's salary at $1,407 ($16,884 annually) and the Mayor's at $2,211
($26,532 annually).
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News and Analysis Oakland Tribune
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| Arguments For Measure S | Arguments Against Measure S |
| One of the most difficult things any of us do is to ask our boss for a raise. We
boost our courage and make our argument based on performance, how much
work we do, how hard it is, what others make for similar jobs, and, of course,
our commitment to the organization.
Ultimately, the decision rests on the boss's opinion. You, the citizens of
Fremont, are our boss. We have boosted our courage and come before you, hat
in hand, to ask for a raise.
State law allows a city to set salaries based on population and permits 5% increases each year. Because Fremont has grown significantly since the salary was first set in 1969, we are much lower than the law would permit today. Had today's population been used to establish the salary base, councilmembers would earn $50,000 and the mayor $75,000, essentially double what this measure authorizes. Without this measure, a councilmember will earn $16884 and the mayor $26532 next year. The jobs have grown and require much more time than ever, yet the low salary generally permits only self employed or retired people to serve. Last year, the mayor of Fremont was paid less than $20,000 for what has become more than a full time job, approximately what a courtesy clerk at Safeway makes working full time. Measure S provides a modest increase, bringing salaries to a level where more people might be able to serve. At $25,000 for councilmembers and $35,000 for the mayor, Fremont would still be lower than what is paid in Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Hayward, and San Jose.
By any measure, your city council has earned an increase. To help assure quality
candidates in the future and to recognize the value you place in their performance,
please vote yes on S.
| NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE S WAS SUBMITTED.
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