The Portland Salary Commission is currently seeking feedback from the public on their proposed salary recommendations for the city council, the auditor and the mayor. Since March 2023, seven community members began this public process of studying and have the authority to establish salaries for these full-time job descriptions (city council, auditor, mayor) by Aug. 1, 2023.
To help the commission arrive at a final decision, the commission held a public hearing on Tuesday, June 27 to record public testimony on the draft proposal. Here is a recorded presentation of the commission's methodology for setting compensation. In the same presentation, listen to responses to frequently asked questions and to what Portlanders think about the salaries and methodology they are considering.
Commissioners respond to frequently asked questions
- Is the Portland City Council giving themselves a big raise?
- Why should councilors make more money when they no longer manage bureaus?
- Why should multilingual officeholders get paid more?
- How can you set salaries without job descriptions?
- How will this impact the city budget?
After hearing the salary commission’s proposal, the commission is inviting you to participate in a survey. The survey opened on Friday, June 16, and closes on Sunday, July 16. The Salary Commission will consider the feedback from the surveys collected at the IDC hearings and website, and will reconvene on Tuesday, July 20 to discuss the survey results and work to finalize their recommendation.
For more detailed information about this proposal, please read the Salary Commission Report.
SUMMARY OF THE DRAFT SALARY PROPOSAL
The Salary Commission has identified the following base pay rates for elected positions:
Mayor: $175,463.00
Auditor: $168,758.00
Council: $142,404.00
In addition, any elected official who chooses to qualify under the City of Portland’s Language Access Program would receive an additional 4% base pay rate. Base pay amounts were set from data that will soon become out-of-date and are therefore subject to any council-approved cost-of-living increases for non-represented employees beginning with the 2023/24 fiscal year.
As part of their process, the Salary Commission established a set of guiding principles, below, and criteria, which are outlined in the draft proposal.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SETTING SALARIES
Pay will open opportunities for historically marginalized communities and will not be a deterrent to running and holding office.
Pay should be based on examining a range of data, be fiscally responsible, and consider the city's budget, the public, and the elected officials.
Pay should reflect the City of Portland's values around anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility.
WHY SETTING A THRIVING WAGE MATTERS
When considering the new pay ranges, the commission paid close attention to the City’s core values, particularly equity, and considered the barriers when running for office. One barrier is that the Portland City Charter prohibits elected officials from earning a second income. With these proposed salaries, the Salary Commission aims to make running for office a possibility for more Portlanders, such as parents, caregivers, people with low income, and people who have been historically underrepresented.
“We know with the rising cost-of-living that we need a thriving wage for those with the most barriers to be able to serve, not just those with wealth and financial privilege,“ said Andres Oswill, community advocate and campaign manager for Opportunity to Serve Oregon Coalition. “We need a salary that allow folks with various lived experiences to serve in office and make city council their full-time job.”
| 1 Adult (Single Parent) Working | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage (hourly) | $21.85 | $40.94 | $51.75 | $69.64 |
| Living Wage (annual) | $45,458.00 | $85,154.00 | $107,639.00 | $144,854.00 |
| Thriving Wage (hourly) | $36.36 | $68.46 | $88.04 | $120.68 |
| Thriving Wage (annual) | $75,620.00 | $142,404.00 | $183,132.00 | $251,004.00 |
This table compares living wages versus thriving wages. The calculation is based on what an adult would need to earn in Portland to only put 50% of their income toward expenses. This was explained in the BHR report Research Requests from April 11, 2023 meeting.
| 2 Adults with 1 Parent Working | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage (hourly) | $32.56 | $39.70 | $44.93 | $52.45 |
| Living Wage (annual) | $67,717 | $82,583 | $93,458 | $109,088 |
| Thriving Wage (hourly) | $51.70 | $63.95 | $71.26 | $86.84 |
| Thriving Wage (annual) | $107,526 | $133,018 | $148,214 | $180,628 |
This table compares living wages versus thriving wages. The calculation is based on what an adult would need to earn in Portland to only put 50% of their income toward expenses. This was explained in the BHR report Research Requests from April 11, 2023 meeting.
| 2 Adults (Both Working) | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage (hourly) | $32.56 | $45.34 | $56.18 | $69.78 |
| Living Wage (annual) | $67,717.00 | $94,290.00 | $116,872.00 | $145,142.00 |
| Thriving Wage (hourly) | $51.70 | $75.21 | $93.77 | $121.51 |
| Thriving Wage (annual) | $107,526.00 | $156,434.00 | $195,042.00 | $252,736.00 |
This table compares living wages versus thriving wages. The calculation is based on what an adult would need to earn in Portland to only put 50% of their income toward expenses. This was explained in the BHR report Research Requests from April 11, 2023 meeting.