New Compensation Proposed for Cleveland’s Fair Employment Wage Board
Cleveland City Council is considering a proposal to provide annual salaries to the members of the Fair Employment Wage Board. Introduced as emergency ordinance 1044-2026, the measure would establish pay for the seven-member board, which is composed of appointed officials and community representatives tasked with enforcing various worker-protection laws.
What's in the file
The proposed legislation seeks to add Section 173.22 to the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland to establish compensation for Board members. According to the Legislative Summary, the Board's responsibilities have expanded since its creation in 2001 to include enforcing the "Pay Transparency Law" (Unlawful Salary Discriminatory Practices Law) and the "Wage Theft Law" (Wage Theft and Payroll Fraud Prevention Law), in addition to the "Living Wage Law."
The ordinance outlines the following compensation structure:
- Board members will receive an annual salary when they begin a new term.
- Members designated by the Board as Chairperson will receive additional annual compensation.
- Members representing the Mayor’s Office or Cleveland City Council are not entitled to compensation for their service to the Board.
| Role | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Board Member | $8,963.00 |
| Board Chairperson (Additional) | $575.00 |
Who may be affected
The ordinance names the following groups and departments:
- Office of Equal Opportunity: The division overseeing the Board.
- Fair Employment Wage Board: The seven-member body receiving the proposed compensation.
- Mayor’s Office and Cleveland City Council: Represented members who will not receive pay for their Board service.
Status and timeline
2026-09-10: The emergency ordinance was introduced and has completed its first reading.
The matter has been referred to City Council.
Residents can verify the details of this proposal by reviewing the official record for File No. 1044-2026 at the Cleveland City Council website.
Source record
- File
- 1044-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- First Reading
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- September 9, 2026
Official documents
- 1044-2026-Enact 173.22 compensation for members of Fair Employment Wage Board
- 1044-2026-Legislative Summary- Fair Employment Wage Board - Legislation to Compensate Board Members
- FINAL VERSION City Record October 9, 2026 Page 60