Costa Mesa City Council Approves Salary Increases for Employees

News Summary

The Costa Mesa City Council has approved tentative agreements with four unions, resulting in $3.5 million in salary and benefits increases amid rising fiscal concerns. Significant salary changes include a 4% increase for police department employees and incremental raises for other city workers. The decisions come as prior contracts are set to expire, with some residents expressing worries over long-term financial impacts. The agreements aim to balance employee compensation and the city’s fiscal health.

Costa Mesa City Council has approved tentative agreements with four employee unions, granting a total of $3.5 million in salary and benefits increases for a year. This financial decision comes amid rising fiscal concerns both locally and nationally.

The agreements involve significant changes in compensation for city employees, despite apprehensions expressed by some residents regarding long-term financial commitments. One resident specifically raised issues about potential future financial burdens resulting from these agreements, highlighting the community’s concerns over maintaining fiscal stability.

The City’s Human Resources Manager, Kasama Lee, announced successful negotiations with the Costa Mesa Police Association (CMPA) and the Costa Mesa Police Managers Association (CMPMA), culminating in a $1.9 million deal. In addition to this, agreements with the Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA) and another confidential unit were included in the total, amounting to nearly $1.6 million.

All prior employment contracts are due to expire on June 30 this year, prompting the urgency for new agreements. Under the new provisions, Costa Mesa Police Department employees—which total 130 officers and nine upper-level managers—will see a 4% salary increase starting on July 1, along with a $300 monthly increase in health benefits. Additionally, an increase of 2.5% will be added to existing longevity bonuses for police staff, which already rewards tenure with escalating percentage increases for years of service. Specifically, those who have worked 25 years receive 12.5%, while employees with 20, 15, and 10 years receive 10%, 7.5%, and 5% bonuses, respectively.

Changes extend to CMPD lieutenants, who will shift from receiving holiday pay to earned bonuses ranging from 5% to 15% based on their Police Officer Standards and Training certification. On the non-police side, nearly 330 city employees will receive various increments, which include a $50 monthly increase in health benefits set to begin in July and a further $100 increase projected for January 2026. Additionally, non-police employees will receive salary increases of 2% effective July 1, with another 2% increase planned for January and an additional 2% for April.

These new salary increases and benefits are accounted for in Costa Mesa’s 2025-26 budget, which has already been adopted. However, the Human Resources Manager indicated that the new agreements would yield an additional $1.5 million impact on next year’s budget. Ralph Taboada, a resident within the community, raised concerns about the validity of this additional expense, warning that the benefits provided might translate into greater fiscal pressures in the years ahead.

Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez acknowledged the city’s strategy in adopting a one-year agreement as a way to better assess economic shifts and fluctuations in revenue. Mayor John Stephens emphasized the need to maintain constructive relationships with labor groups, recalling previous disputes involving the outsourcing of city services as a factor that strained community relations.

Overall, the approved agreements illustrate Costa Mesa’s response to ongoing uncertain economic conditions while striving to uphold essential safety and service levels within the community. Faced with fiscal scrutiny, the City Council’s decision demonstrates a commitment to balance employee compensation with long-term financial health.

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Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Costa Mesa Inks $3.5M Deal with Employee Labor Groups
• Wikipedia: Fiscal Policy
• OC Register: Stater Bros Lays Off Store Clerks
• Google Search: Stater Bros layoffs
• Victor Valley Daily Press: Stater Bros Lays Off Clerks
• Google Scholar: Employee Contracts California
• Los Angeles Times: Newport Mesa Unified Approves Employee Contracts
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Contract Law