July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Top City Salary Nearly 300k:

The City of Santa Monica released City employees’ salaries amid a flurry of budget reform and pay scandals that have swept through state and municipal governments this year.

Santa Monica City workers are part of a small group of nationwide government workers that did not receive employee layoffs to balance budgets during the economy crisis. Santa Monica’s $553.6 million budget funneled reserve funds and increased municipal service fees, as opposed to the furlough days and pink slips that many municipalities resorted to.

With a population of more than 84,000 in just 8.3 square miles, the City salaries speak volumes when compared to other municipalities. In what is typically one of the highest paid positions in local government, Santa Monica City Manger Rod Gould makes $291,552 a year, with Chief of Police Timothy J. Jackman paid up to $209,748 annually.

Mayor Bobby Shriver is paid a $15,467 annual salary for what is considered a part-time position as head of the Santa Monica City Council. The seven council members make $12,888 a year respectively. Assistant City manager Elaine Polachek makes up to $221,460. The City Attorney, one of the highest salaries in the City, makes up to $249,384 a year.

Los Angeles became the largest city in the United States, at 3.7 million people, to post the salaries of close to all its employees online this August. The highest paid salaries in the L.A. are the General Manager of the Airports at $327,000 annually, Chief of Police at $308,000, and the General Manager of the Harbor Department at $301,000 a year. The positions also correspond to the highest paid departments in that order.

The minimum salary is a little more than $232,000 a year for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a leader who has been criticized for high City officials salaries, unsustainable pension deals, and massive numbers of employees, departments, and advisers. Thanks to the budget deficit, Villaraigosa has also called this year for massive employee pay cuts, lay offs, and pension reform. All but five of the L.A. City Council members volunteered to take pay cuts in the face of budget reductions, according to a LA Weekly blog, excluding Council member Bernard Parks who has refused to reduce his salary while already getting a six-figure City pension.

Parks gets a $265,000 annual pension for his work at the police department while keeping his council salary at nearly $179,000.

City officials said releasing the salaries of officials was in response to the infamous Bell pay scandal. Bell City Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo, Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia, and Police Chief Randy Adams resigned after being exposed with large salaries for City officials overseeing one of the poorest towns in Los Angeles County.

Top official Rizzo was the highest paid about $788,000 a year, almost twice the salary of the U.S. President. Assistant City Manager Spaccia made more than $376,000 a year, over $150,000 more than Santa Monica’s Polacheck. Chief Adams received $457,000, which is 50 percent more than L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck and more than double the salary of Santa Monica’s Chief Jackman.

Four of the five Bell Council members made almost $100,000 for a part-time position.

Compare this to Pasadena, a population three times the size of Bell, which annually pays the City Manager $267,000, Assistant City Manager $202,000 a year, and Police Chief a cumulative of $212,000.

Only two percent of council members from small cities and seven percent of those from medium-sized cities (population 70,000 to 199,999) reported receiving $20,000 or more in salary in 2001, according to the National League of Cities. From the report, cities with populations larger than 200,000 salaries are above $20,000 and closer to $40,000 for cities with a mayor and council.

The league also reported the average number of hours spent per week on council-related matters among council members in small, medium-sized, and large cities is 20, 25, and 42, respectively. Two-thirds of council members across cities of all sizes said they would prefer a higher salary.

To view all Santa Monica City workers salaries, visit smgov.net and click on the “Santa Monica Municipal Employee and Elected Official Salaries” link.

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...