There have been widespread reports that the Corvallis City Council gave City Manager Mark Shepard a raise on Monday. That’s not what happened. What they did was approve his yearly performance evaluation and continued employment – he neither requested nor received a raise.
But that doesn’t mean he’s been entirely raiseless. Back in June, all City of Corvallis exempt staff, like directors and other top dawgs, received a 4% cost-of-living adjustment, Shepard received the same raise.
What started all the recent hubbub, it would appear, was Ward 9 City Councilor Tony Cadena noting that months ago cost-of-living pay bump in an open Council meeting on Monday.
Other news media and local socials, not us, went full-tilt heehaw. And why not. The City is embroiled in a strike of its non-exempt union employees, and the public is way more sympathetic toward them than Shepard.
Shepard’s last merit raise was 5% back in December 2025. His current base salary is $255,000 yearly.
The union is seeking a three-year contract with a 6% cost-of-living raise the first year, 3% the second, and 5% in the third. They are also seeking better opportunities for longevity pay; exempt staff gets nine opportunities for longevity bumps, AFSCME’s union employees only get six. The union is also seeking to maintain their current health insurance premium share and greater hazard pay.
The Council voted 8 to 1 to approve Shepard’s evaluation and ongoing work, Ward 5 Councilor Charlyn Ellis voted nyet.
Meanwhile, during Monday’s Council meeting, AFSCME staff picketed outside. Several union members spoke at the Council meeting. According to a release from the union, only $100,000 ultimately separated the union from the City. $100,000 to avoid a strike. They also said the City hasn’t been willing to write regular meetings with union leadership into the new contract, and that the City’s negotiators left mediation early just before the strike started.
At press time, other local news sources have corrected their original reporting, bloggers and social media, not so much.
By Steven J. Schultz
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