Someone’s getting a raise! No, not you (sorry). Looks like it’s that time of year where West Hollywood City Council has a pay raise item on Monday’s meeting agenda.
On Monday night, councilmembers will vote to give themselves a pay bump from $1,724.79 to $1,897.24 — roughly a 10 percent increase. If it gets approved, their annual base pay would be about $22,766 before benefits and reimbursements kick in.
While it can look a bit awkward for the council to give themselves a raise, truth is it’s part of West Hollywood’s Municipal Code, which has council compensation being reviewed at the same time as labor negotiations with employee unions take place. In this case, the cycle runs about every two years in June. They didn’t just decide one day over drinks to pat themselves on the back and say “Hey! We deserve a raise.” That’s not how this works.
Monday’s vote is only the first reading. The ordinance would need a second approval at a later meeting to take effect. Even then, state law prevents current members from immediately receiving the increase. Any raise would kick in after the November election, once a new council term begins.
This isn’t new for West Hollywood
Past raises include ones in 1997, 2007, 2017 and most recently in 2022. Generally the City waits about two years of the state’s permitted increases to stack before acting. That appears to be the case again.
The council’s current monthly paycheck of $1,724.79 was voted on in 2022 and kicked in December 2024. This bump was up from $1,568. Before that, a 2020 vote brought pay from $1,237 to $1,422 — a 15 percent jump that was the first raise since 2015. That vote was 4-1, with then-Mayor Lindsey Horvath was the lone no vote, saying COVID-era staff furloughs was her reason. The 2022 raise to $1,568 was a different story, it was placed on the consent calendar, passing with no separate discussion and no public comment opportunity. By the way, if you’re interested to know what the City (and you) pay your City employees that schedule is here.
State law does limit what the increases can be. SB 329 says cities can raise council salaries by up to 5 percent a year from the last bump, or tie increases to inflation — which is what a lot of companies and government agencies do. West Hollywood used the flat 5 percent method in 2024. California’s Attorney General says the increases have to be calculated using simple interest, not compound interest.
How much do you make?
Private-sector pay in the LA area increased about 3.1 percent during the year ending in March 2026. Overall national wage growth was about 3.4 percent. Inflation in Los Angeles averaged roughly 3.3 percent in 2024. By comparison, the council’s proposed increase totals about 10 percent over two years.
Salary isn’t the entire picture
Councilmembers also receive monthly stipends — $150 for phone and internet expenses and another $100 for office and transportation costs. This is no different than most businesses and is to be expected. Though here’s a hint: some of them ought to use their phones and internet to return calls and emails — a frequent complaint we receive from residents.
As for benefits, they’re eligible for medical coverage, life and disability insurance, and travel reimbursement for official City business. West Hollywood also participates in CalPERS, which is California’s pension program that offers retirement and retiree health benefits. Those costs are in addition to the state salary cap.
Transparent California records from 2022 show major differences in total compensation depending on what benefits individual members used. Total compensation ranged from roughly $18,000 to more than $45,000. Councilmember John Erickson and then-Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne were among the highest that year, each reporting compensation above $45,000.
What’s it costing residents?
If we use West Hollywood’s 2020 Census population of 35,757, the proposed base salary works out to roughly $3.18 per resident annually for the five-member council. The current number is closer to $2.89. This doesn’t include benefits, stipends or pension-related costs.
Back in 2015, WEHoville estimated the council cost residents about 47 cents per person for council’s total compensation, not just the base salary.
You make what?
If you’re a councilmember in Beverly Hills you’ll make about $10,000 annually. Malibu pays closer to $7,000. Both cities are guided by the same state rules as WeHo but have chosen not to regularly adopt raises.
Culver City gave themselves a pretty big jump in late 2024, increasing monthly pay to about $1,261 — roughly $15,135 annually. At the time, a city staff report pointed to West Hollywood paying their councilmembers more.
Santa Monica pays their councilmembers about $23,184 annually, or roughly $1,932 a month — which is a smidge above where West Hollywood would land if Monday’s proposal passes.
Pasadena is a Charter City which lets them operate differently. They are not tied to the same state formula. Their councilmembers receive about $2,870 a month, along with full medical through CalPERS and retirement contributions tied to their stipend.
Monday’s vote is scheduled during the regular City Council meeting. As we said earlier, Mayor Heilman and Councilmember Meister would not see the bump simce it doesn’t take effect until after the November election. State law requires at least one member must have been recently sworn into office to trigger the raise.
For what it’s worth
Feel how you feel about this council. Love who you love. Loathe who you loathe. That’s politics, baby.
But here’s the thing. Whatever your politics, these folks do put in the time. There is not a day or night that goes by — and we track this — where one or more of them isn’t at some event, some meeting, some appearance somewhere in this city. That alone is worth something. Then you roll in the council meetings, subcommittee meetings, regional meetings, research, prep, etc. and there’s a more accurate picture.
Yes, it’s technically a part-time job. But anyone who’s watched what the calendar actually looks like knows it doesn’t always feel that way.
The pay is modest. The scrutiny is not. For those who actually do the work — and some do more than others, let’s be honest — $1,897 a month starts to look a lot less outrageous when you break it down by the hour.
Maybe I should run for council. My slogan would be “I could use the money”
It’s money well spent.
They better not use the phrase their salary increase is to make it affordable for them to continue to live in West Hollywood
We don’t need every member of council to attend every opening of a handbag. It’s really rather nauseating to hear some members exhaust themselves in chronicling every movement they make, many of which are more to their political branding efforts than to substantive results for the city. Members and candidates for office know full well what the compensation structure is when they volunteer to run for the office.
The case for a City Council pay raise deserves more scrutiny than it is receiving. Much of the “extra” work cited as justification is voluntary and often serves to advance political careers as much as it serves the public. There is no requirement that the entire council attend every ribbon cutting, reception, proclamation, or ceremonial event. Many of these appearances are choices that increase visibility, networking opportunities, and future political prospects. The same can be said of much of the travel and regional board participation routinely offered as evidence of an excessive workload. Residents are told these trips and meetings… Read more »
Much of the “extra” work cited as justification is voluntary and often serves to advance political careers as much as it serves the public. There is no requirement that the entire council attend every ribbon cutting, reception, proclamation, or ceremonial event. Many of these appearances are choices that increase visibility, networking opportunities, and future political prospects. The same can be said of much of the travel and regional board participation routinely offered as evidence of an excessive workload. Residents are told these trips and meetings are essential, yet too often they appear to function as political networking opportunities that do… Read more »
Waste of $$ a high school council could do better!
If Council members pretend their hands are tied and they can’t confront Sacramento’s SB79 there should be no Council and they shouldn’t get paid at all.