27.6% pay increase for mayor is approved

Councilmembers will also see a 21.6% bump after 2024 election

The Ontario City Council earlier this month approved a 27.6% salary increase for the mayor and a 21.6% increase for councilmembers.

Mayor Paul Leon will see a monthly salary increase of $879 beginning Saturday, bringing his total monthly salary to $4,059.84. The mayor’s salary adjustment aligns with the city’s regular pay period for public employees.

The council approved the salary adjustments at its April 4 meeting.

In addition to the pay bump for the mayor, the council approved a pay increase for its members that will take effect after the November 2024 election, per the city’s ordinance. After the 2024 election, councilmembers’ monthly pay will go from $1,884.48 to $2,405.13.

The council last saw a pay adjustment after the 2018 election, while the mayor’s salary was last increased in 2017.

According to Transparent California, a website through the Nevada Policy Research Institute that keeps track of public employee salaries, as of 2021, Leon’s base salary was $60,785.92, and he made $8,303.44 in “other pay.”

According to Transparent California, “other pay” is pay not reported with base pay and can include things such as stipends, car allowances and bonuses.

Councilmembers Debra Porada, Ruben Valencia and Jim Bowman made a base yearly salary of $22,613.76 and Councilmember Alan Wapner made $19,681.20 in 2021, according to Transparent California.

In the same year, councilmembers received an average of $9,445.81 of “other pay.” Wapner received $10,703.44, Bowman received $10,535.72, Valencia received $8,700.56, and Porada received $7,843.52, according to the website.