Oakland Measure EE: Pay Hikes Up to $108K for Councilmembers Spark Debate Amid Budget Shortfalls and Homelessness Surge

Oakland voters will decide November 3, 2026, on Measure EE, a charter amendment backed by Mayor Barbara Lee that would shift the city to a strong-mayor system while empowering the Public Ethics Commission (PEC) to set council and mayoral salaries based on peer California jurisdictions, removing the existing 5% biennial cap. Current compensation for the eight councilmembers stands at approximately $148,500 annually including benefits; analyses project potential increases of $36,000 to $108,000 per member, pushing totals toward $256,500.[1][2]

The proposal arrives as Oakland grapples with persistent challenges: homelessness has roughly doubled since 2015 to 4,410 individuals; a June 2026 parcel tax failure eliminated expected $34 million in annual revenue, prompting warnings of hiring freezes and cuts to ~190 shelter beds; illegal dumping exceeded 1,700 tons in recent months; and a high-profile corruption trial involving former Mayor Sheng Thao continues. City auditor estimates add $867,000 in first-year compensation costs, with the full package totaling $2–2.6 million.[3]

Supporters frame the changes as enhancing accountability and accessibility for non-wealthy candidates by recognizing full-time roles, alongside new mayoral veto power, council confirmation of department heads, and an independent budget analyst office. Critics, including detailed reporting from Oakland Report, highlight how campaign materials largely omit the compensation shift and question the timing given fiscal strain and recent governance scandals. The measure originated from a mayoral working group; Lee broke a 4-4 council deadlock to place it on the ballot.[4]

Broader context reveals recurring tensions: Oakland's per-resident council pay already exceeds peers, median household income hovers near $97,000–$102,000, and prior salary benchmarking (e.g., city attorney) produced rapid jumps. The contrast underscores debates on institutional priorities during crises, with power consolidation risks noted amid Thao's ongoing trial.