Oakland — one of ‘most corrupt cities in America’ — considers huge pay bumps for council members

Long dogged by corruption scandals, a public safety crisis and general dysfunction at City Hall, Oakland is now considering a proposal that could more than double the pay of its council members.

Mayor Barbara Lee and city leaders are weighing a report that calls for reforming the city charter via a November ballot measure to create a stronger mayor system. But one recommendation that has drawn a galling reaction would significantly raise council members’ salaries. 

Despite running a structural deficit well north of $100 million after handing out pay bumps to public employee unions in recent years, a report by SPUR and the League of Women Voters of Oakland argued that Oakland should conduct a survey to “establish market-appropriate compensation for full-time legislative work.” 

Under the proposal, City Council members would no longer be able to receive outside employment and their salaries — currently about $109,000 and set to rise to almost $115,000 in July — could increase to levels comparable with Los Angeles or San Diego, according to calculations cited in an Oakland Report analysis.

If council members’ salaries go up to the level of San Diego or Los Angeles, the increase in pay would be between 69% and 125%.

The mayor’s office and Kevin Jenkins, the current president of the City Council, did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment.

Chris Moore, a former Alameda County supervisor candidate and public safety advocate, called some of the current council members “inept” — most notably Councilmember Carroll Fife — and slammed the potential pay raises.

“The good side — if it was feasible — is getting responsible people on the City Council,” Moore said. “But the potential benefit would take a very long time to attain.”

He added, “It’s much more likely in Oakland, which is probably one of the most corrupt cities in America, that they’ll be completely controlled by the employee unions.”

A report by Oaklandside ranking council members found that Fife had the worst attendance record last year, missing roughly 19% of the votes taken.

Another report by the publication found that the City Council routinely flouted public records laws, with Councilmember Noel Gallo being the worst offender. In November, the city’s transportation and pubic works chief accused Councilmember Ken Houston of trying to “rig” a contract.

If Oakland voters were to approve converting council members into full-time officials with benefits, Oakland Report found that compensation could reach as high as $318,145 per member annually — including health care, pensions and other benefits.

For taxpayers, that would reportedly translate to an additional $1.96 million to $3.04 million per year for the eight-member council.

The city — or The Town, as it is known in the Bay Area — has been rocked by recall elections in recent years that removed former mayor Sheng Thao and Pam Price, the previous district attorney for Alameda County. Thao was indicted after an FBI probe, which she said treated her unfairly because she isn’t rich.

About 63% of likely voters back the overall charter reform framework, according to SPUR and the League of Women Voters of Oakland, while 73% supported granting the mayor veto power.

“These numbers send a clear message: Oaklanders want accountability, and they want a city government that can actually get things done,” Lee said in a statement released with the poll.

However, it’s unclear whether voters will sign off on massive raises for a council that says the city is broke — repeatedly declaring “extreme fiscal necessity,” pushing new parcel taxes, and still failing to meet long-standing police staffing targets of about 700 officers.

Oakland’s charter reform report noted that many current and former city officials said there is a sense that “everyone is in charge, and therefore no one is in charge.” 

Giving the mayor more powers while reducing the say council members have in dictating policy would seem like an unusual way of arguing the latter elected officials deserve a raise.

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