Citizens' Stipend Setting Commission Meeting Summary – April 16, 2026

The Citizens' Stipend Setting Commission met at 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in the City Council Chamber at the Merced Civic Center. The commission approved the prior meeting minutes and held a public hearing on whether to change the monthly stipend for the Mayor and City Council. No public comments were received. The commission voted 4-2 on a preliminary stipend recommendation and continued the hearing to its April 30, 2026 meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the April 2, 2026 commission minutes unanimously (motion by Commissioner Pevsner, second by Commissioner Jenkins).

Public Comments & Testimony

• The Clerk reported that no emailed public comments were received.
• The public hearing was opened at 6:02 PM, but no audience members spoke, and the hearing was closed.

Discussion Items

• Staff reviewed stipend history: before 2020, council members received $20 per month and the Mayor received $50 per month; the 2020 stipend-setting commission increased council to $400 per month and the Mayor to $500 per month; the 2024 commission increased both by $100 per month, to the current $500 per month for council and $600 per month for the Mayor.
• Staff shared comparison data from other cities: Atwater provides no stipend, Ceres and Turlock are near Merced's range, Modesto is higher, and Los Banos is slightly lower. Lodi and Chowchilla did not respond in time.
• Commissioner Kelly added that Manteca, with a population of 96,849, raised council member pay from $600 to $1,900 per month effective December 16, 2024, because of the time council members spend on off-dais responsibilities, committees, Sacramento advocacy, and community events.
• Staff said stipends are subject to payroll taxes; council members receive iPads and have a separate division budget for travel, training, supplies, and services. Travel reimbursement requires pre-approved expense reports and receipts; the city's travel credit card is only used for approved travel.
• Commissioner Pevsner requested additional comparative data by population and median income and asked about the difference between general law and charter city rules. Staff later cited Government Code population-based stipend ranges, including up to $1,900 per month for general law cities with 75,000 to 150,000 residents; Merced is a charter city.
• Several commissioners described council workload, including reading large agendas, preparing questions, attending community events, serving on subcommittees, and holding full-time jobs. Commissioner Kelly recommended starting at $1,000 per month, while Commissioner Burnett cautioned that volunteerism and community service should not be overshadowed by compensation, and Commissioner Pevsner raised concerns about city affordability and fairness to city employees.
• The Finance Director said the current annual stipend cost is about $43,200, while $1,000 per month for seven members would be roughly $84,000 in base pay plus employer Medicare and Social Security costs. She noted the city is facing a difficult budget year and may not be able to present a balanced budget.
• One commissioner asked about timing, and staff confirmed that the charter requires two public hearings between March and June, so the recommendation must be completed before the budget is finalized.

Key Outcomes

• A motion to set council stipend at $700 per month and the Mayor at $800 per month failed for lack of a second.
• A motion to recommend $1,000 per month for each of the six council members and $1,250 per month for the Mayor, made by Commissioner Kelly and seconded by Vice Chair Strada, passed 4-2; Commissioners Burnett and Pevsner voted no.
• The public hearing will continue on April 30, 2026; staff will prepare a formal written recommendation and resolution to forward to the City Council for final approval.
• Staff was asked to bring additional data on general law stipend formulas and affordability/budget impact for the next discussion.