Compensation and Labor Agreements

Introduction

The public has the right to know the pay and benefits of all public employees and the City of Modesto is committed to providing information on our employee’s compensation, contracts and benefits. While the majority of this information has been available in one place or another on our website for several years, we have decided to make this "one stop shop" for all employee-related pay and benefit information.

In an effort to always be transparent, we realize that we may not have captured everything you would like to see on this one page. If you feel we have forgotten to include some information, please click here to send us a note.

City Council Compensation and Reimbursement

City Charter section 703 states that the Mayor and each member of the council should be paid monthly for their service. A Citizen’s Salary Setting Commission was established to meet every even-numbered year between March 1 and April 30 to recommend the compensation it deems appropriate for the Mayor and members of the Council.

The limitations set by the City Charter states that the salary of the Mayor may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the salary of a Judge of the Superior Court of Stanislaus County. The salary of a Councilmember is not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the median family income for the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area as reported by the United States Census Bureau.

In 2010, the Salary Setting Commission met and maintained its original recommendation of the following salaries:

• Mayor - $3,600 monthly or $43,200 annually
• Councilmembers - $2,000 monthly or $24,000 annually

This recommendation was approved by the City Council on April 27, 2010.

The City does not contribute toward medical, dental or vision benefits; however, the Mayor and Councilmembers may purchase coverage under the City’s employee benefit plans. The Mayor and Councilmembers also receive $30 in compensation for each Modesto Redevelopment Agency meeting that is held, not to exceed four meetings during any calendar month. Compensation is reduced by one-sixth for each regular meeting of the Council not attended each month, unless the absence is due to official duty with consent of the rest of Council.

The Mayor and Councilmembers participate in the Public Agency Retirement System (PARS). This plan is required for all part-time employees in lieu of Social Security, with the Councilmember contributing 3.75% and the City contributing 3.75%. The Mayor and Councilmembers must enroll in PARS, with the only exception being Councilmembers who are currently receiving a California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) pension.

The Mayor and Councilmembers may also participate in the ICMA Deferred Compensation plan on a voluntary basis. The City does not make a contribution to this plan.

The Mayor and Councilmembers are allowed to receive reimbursement for expenses incurred while performing official duties as long as documentation is provided in the same way in which employees of the City are required to submit for reimbursement. Expense reimbursement requires a receipt and may include actual telephone, FAX and cellular expenses incurred on City business. Reimbursement of up to $45 per calendar month, with appropriate documentation, for Internet service provider charges is also allowed for the e-mail and Internet communication from their residence or via PDA for official City-related business.

Mayor Jim Ridenour

• Annual Salary: $43,200 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember John Gunderson, District 1

• Annual Salary: $24,000
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember Dave Geer, District 2

• Annual Salary: $24,000 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember Dave Lopez, District 3

• Annual Salary: $24,000 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember Joe Muratore, District 4

• Annual Salary: $24,000 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember Stephanie Burnside, District 5

• Annual Salary: $24,000 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Councilmember Dave Cogdill, Jr., District 6

• Annual Salary: $24,000 (minus a voluntary 4.6% reduction)
• $30 per meeting – Modesto Redevelopment Agency

Employee Compensation Information, Contracts and MOU's

Summary of Benefits for Executives and Charter Officers

Citywide Job Descriptions and Salary Ranges

The California State Controller, John Chiang, has required a Local Governmental Compensation Reporting program which is intended to collect salary, compensation and benefit information for all elected, appointed and employed personnel with government agencies in California. The City of Modesto has complied with the State’s request and a report has been compiled for calendar year 2009 and is available here. If you are interested in searching the State Controller’s complete database, click here.

Reports and Letters of Agreement