San Diego's Executive Pay Scale: A Costly Leadership in a Budget Crisis

San Diego's Executive Pay Scale: A Costly Leadership in a Budget Crisis

As San Diego navigates a significant $258 million budget deficit, the salaries of its top city officials have come under scrutiny. Mayor Todd Gloria currently earns $244,727 annually, which exceeds California Governor Gavin Newsom's salary of $242,295. Meanwhile, each of San Diego's nine City Councilmembers earns $185,545 per year, surpassing the $174,000 salary of U.S. congressional representatives.

Personnel Costs in Context

The City of San Diego employs approximately 12,000 workers with personnel costs representing one of the largest expense categories in the city's $5.8 billion total budget for fiscal year 2025. According to recent reports, the average annual pay for workers in the city's pension system increased by 8.1% in just one year, from $98,045 to $105,953.

Pension payments represent a substantial portion of the city's financial obligations. For 2025, San Diego is facing a record-high pension payment of $533 million, which accounts for approximately 20% of the city's general fund budget. This growing pension obligation has contributed significantly to the budget deficit and is expected to continue rising as employee salaries increase.

Executive Compensation Under Measure L

The positions affected by Measure L include only 11 elected officials: the mayor, nine city council members, and the city attorney. The total annual cost of these positions is approximately:

  • Mayor: $244,727
  • Nine City Councilmembers: $185,545 each (totaling $1,669,905)
  • City Attorney: Around $244,727 (same as the mayor)
  • Combined total: Approximately $2.16 million

This represents less than 0.04% of the city's total $5.8 billion budget and less than 1% of the current $258 million deficit.

How Salaries Are Determined

The current salary structure stems from Measure L, approved by 78% of San Diego voters in 2018. The measure tied the salaries of elected officials to 75% of what San Diego Superior Court judges earn for council members, and 100% of judicial salaries for the mayor and city attorney. When judges receive increases—which are calculated based on the average percentage increase for California state employees—city leaders automatically receive corresponding raises.

Since the implementation of Measure L, elected officials have received five raises in three years that more than doubled their annual salaries. Before Measure L, councilmembers earned about $75,000 and the mayor earned roughly $100,000.

Can These Salaries Be Reduced?

According to the San Diego City Attorney's Office, Measure L made elected official salaries part of the city charter. This means it would require another voter-approved charter amendment for councilmembers or the mayor to reject increases or return portions of their salaries to the city.

Budget Impact Analysis

While the salaries of elected officials have drawn attention, they represent a minuscule fraction of the city's overall personnel costs and pension obligations. The city's annual pension payment of $533 million dwarfs the approximately $2.16 million spent on elected officials' compensation.

The proposed budget cuts for fiscal year 2026 include $30.5 million in personnel cost reductions, which will result in eliminating 393 positions, 160 of which are currently filled. These cuts are part of a larger $175.9 million reduction across all city departments.

Public Reaction and Expert Opinions

Bob Ottilie, who authored Measure L, believes the higher salaries have achieved their intended goal of attracting better-qualified candidates to public service. "The purpose was to get quality people to leave for four to eight years without taking a steep pay cut — and then return to their professions," Ottilie stated.

Critics argue that automatic raises for elected officials are out of touch with the financial realities faced by most San Diegans, especially as the city implements service cuts that directly impact residents. Some residents have questioned whether voters fully understood the long-term financial implications of Measure L when they approved it.

As the city continues to navigate its budget crisis, the focus remains on the much larger issues of pension obligations and overall personnel costs, which together represent a far more significant portion of the city's financial challenges than executive compensation.

Sources:

  1. NBC San Diego. "San Diego isn't considering salary cuts — even for leaders — amid budget crisis." https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/investigations/san-diego-isnt-considering-salary-cuts-even-for-leaders-amid-budget-crisis/3471895/

  2. San Diego Union-Tribune. "San Diego hit with $533 million pension payment, an unprecedented sum in a painful budget year." https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/14/san-diego-hit-with-533-million-pension-payment-an-unprecedented-sum-in-a-painful-budget-year/

  3. San Diego Union-Tribune. "When will city leaders grasp desperate need for pension reform?" https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/22/when-will-city-leaders-grasp-desperate-need-for-pension-reform/

  4. Inside San Diego. "Preliminary City of San Diego Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 Released." https://www.insidesandiego.org/preliminary-city-san-diego-budget-fiscal-year-2026-released

  5. NBC San Diego. "San Diego City Council approves modified version of Mayor Gloria's 2025 budget." https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-city-council-to-offer-final-verdict-on-mayor-glorias-2025-budget/3538123/

  6. San Diego Union-Tribune. "San Diego elected officials have gotten five raises since voters overhauled their pay." https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/06/05/san-diego-elected-officials-have-gotten-five-raises-since-voters-overhauled-their-pay-heres-what-they-make/

  7. Voter's Edge California. "Measure L — Ethics and Compensation for Elected City Officers." https://votersedge.org/ca/en/election/2018-11-06/san-diego-county/city-of-san-diego/measure/measure-l

  8. City of San Diego. "Current City Jobs." https://www.sandiego.gov/empopp/city-jobs

  9. Reason.org. "San Diego's extreme pension costs are forcing difficult budget choices." https://reason.org/commentary/why-are-so-many-of-san-diegos-needs-going-unmet-extreme-pension-costs/

San Diego isn’t considering salary cuts — even for leaders — amid budget crisis – NBC 7 San Diego

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