Carlsbad City Council gives itself, city clerk and treasurer 4% pay raises

Carlsbad’s City Council members approved a 4% raise Tuesday for themselves, the city clerk and the city treasurer, an amount equal to the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index.

Carlsbad’s elected positions are considered part-time. With this year’s increase, the base annual salary is $31,351 for the mayor, $30,151 for each of the four council members, and $15,203 each for the city treasurer and city clerk, according to a city report.

Under Measure G approved by the city’s voters in 2020, each year the council must approve or waive a raise for elected officials no larger than that year’s regional CPI. If the council declines the raise, in the future it cannot collect retroactive raises for previous years.

The council approved the increase without comment. However, Councilmember Melanie Burkholder asked for a separate vote on the City Council, which approved the pay hike 4-1 with Burkholder opposed. The 4% increase for the city clerk and treasurer was approved unanimously.

Burkholder also opposed the increase last year, when the council approved a 2.6% raise. At the time she said, “I feel like we are in uncertain economic times, and I don’t think it’s wise, when we are looking at our budget, to increase our wages,” she said.

The mayor and council members also serve as the city’s Community Development Commission and as its water district board.

As such, they receive $75 per meeting (a maximum of $150 per month) of the Community Development Commission, which meets concurrently with the City Council. They also get $100 per meeting (a maximum of $300 per month) of the water board, which also meets concurrently with the City Council.

Annual car allowances are $5,400 for the mayor, $4,200 for each council member, and $2,400 each for the city treasurer and the city clerk, according to the city’s website.

Elected officials also have the option of participating in the California Public Employees’ Retirement system (CalPERS) or the MidAmerica APPLE Deferred Compensation Plan, as well as other benefits such as life insurance, health insurance, and flexible spending accounts.