After Closed-Door Negotiations, Oakland City Council To Vote On Major Compensation Increases for OPD

Proposal From Mayor Schaaf Comes on Heels of $12 Million Increase to Police Budget

Oakland, CA — On Tuesday, Oakland City Council will consider increasing the Oakland Police Department’s benefits and wages — on top of the $12 million budget increase they already voted to give the department. 

OPD’s current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is not up for renegotiation, so this compensation increase is highly irregular. It comes after closed-door negotiations between the Schaaf Administration and the Oakland Police Officers’ Association.

The City of Oakland loses millions of dollars every year through contract exploits. If the City Council approves a new MOU without closing the loopholes, they will launch Oakland into even more dire financial jeopardy. 

“Libby Schaaf is trying to give OPD a parting gift before she leaves office,” said James Burch, policy director for the Anti Police-Terror Project. “Time after time our government fails to invest in the community while overfunding the police. Now the administration has decided to open up OPD’s contract for no other reason than to funnel more funds to officers. We cannot sustain the police contracts as they currently exist, and it is up to City Council to draw the line.”

OPD’s budget has increased every year during the Schaaf administration, despite numerous false claims of being defunded by the mayor and police chief. When Schaaf became mayor in 2015, the police budget was approximately $200 million. It has since ballooned to over $350 million — an increase of more than 75%. 

City Council will vote on the pay increase at a special meeting on Tuesday, July 19 at 12 pm.