Corvallis Council Retains City Manager Mark Shepard
The City Council voted 8 to 1 to approve the evaluation and continued employment of City Manager Mark Shepard.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Unions
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The Corvallis City Council voted 8 to 1 to approve the annual performance evaluation and continued employment of City Manager Mark Shepard on Monday. Shepard, who currently earns a $255,000 annual base salary, did not receive a pay raise during the meeting.
Why it matters
The vote coincides with ongoing contract negotiations and a strike by AFSCME union employees seeking higher wages and benefits. The union claims a $100,000 gap persists between their proposal and the city's current offer.
The Council voted 8 to 1 to retain Mark Shepard, whose base salary stands at $255,000. Meanwhile, the union reports a $100,000 deficit between its proposed contract and the city's counter-offer.
The players
Mark Shepard
He serves as the City Manager for the City of Corvallis and oversees municipal operations.
AFSCME
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represents public sector workers in collective bargaining.
Corvallis City Council
This local governing body is responsible for municipal policy, budget oversight, and hiring city leadership.
The details
AFSCME union employees picketed outside the City Council meeting while members addressed officials during the public comment period. The union is currently demanding a three-year contract with annual cost-of-living increases of 6%, 3%, and 5%, while also seeking parity in longevity pay compared to the nine opportunities currently granted to exempt staff.
Timeline
December 2025: Mark Shepard received a 5% merit raise.
June 2026: Exempt staff received a 4% cost-of-living adjustment.
October 19, 2026: City Council voted on Mark Shepard's evaluation.
Political Context
This dispute over cost-of-living adjustments follows a pattern set by the Oregon Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act regarding the arbitration of wage disputes. Opponents and union representatives argue that the city's current compensation structure fails to address parity between management and rank-and-file staff.
Residents may face ongoing disruptions to municipal services as the AFSCME union remains on strike. The outcome of these negotiations will ultimately determine the allocation of city budget resources for future employee compensation.
The takeaway
The tension between municipal leadership and union employees highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing city budgets with rising cost-of-living demands. Residents should monitor local government updates for any changes to service availability while the strike persists.
Further reading
For more on labor relations, visit the Corvallis Unions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Corvallis Advocate.
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