Measure B: LIMITS ON CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION

The City Council monthly stipend based on 15% of the median family/household for the City of Murrieta is presently equivalent to State recommendations of $1,200. Murrieta’s median family/household income is about $80,000. Larger median family/household incomes would allow larger city council stipends. This gives the City Council an incentive to improve the economic base of the City of Murrieta. It was never the intent of the State law for volunteer city council members to receive pensions, club memberships, full medical care, etc. This law would bar the city council of benefits that far exceeds the intention of the State Code § 36516, however, this code does not prevent city council members from receiving even greater benefits that are not representative of the people they govern.The ordinance proposed by initiative petition would limit the City Council members stipend to 15% of the median family/household income of the people of Murrieta. This ordinance would limit them from receiving any other personal benefits including, but not limited to club memberships, medical and life insurance, and pensions. The proposed ordinance would require that any increase in City Council benefits be by a vote of a super-majority of the registered voters of Murrieta, or fifty-five percent (55%). The proposed cap on City Council benefits would be exclusive of any amounts payable to each City Council member as reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties for the City, as provided by section 36514.5 of the Government Code. The proposed ordinance would require that such reimbursement be established by a policy resolution adopted by the City Council. Click here for petition B