L.A. City Council Salaries

Candidates campaigning for L.A. city council seats have been criticizing councilmembers’ high salaries. Councilmembers are the best-paid in the nation compared with other big cities. They make a minimum of $184,610 per year. That’s more than the governor. More than members of Congress. And almost twice as much as California state lawmakers. At the same time, the city has a budget crunch, and mayor Eric Garcetti -- who makes more than $235,000 a year -- is negotiating with unions to put off pay raises, have workers pay part of their healthcare premiums, and reduce pensions.