Sacramento’s city council and mayor are slated for raises next month

By CapRadio staff

Sacramento City Council members and Mayor Darrell Steinberg will see a bump in their pay starting in June, as the city's Compensation Commission has voted to approve a 3.5% salary increase. 

City staff looked at salaries in comparable cities like San Jose, Portland and Oakland to determine totals for the raises.  

But the decision was not unanimous: While three members of the commission voted in favor of the raises, chair Arthur Scotland voted against.

“My concern is that with this uncertain budget problems and fiscal challenges that are facing the city in the next coming year,” he said. “I personally feel it’s not reasonable to increase the salary at this time. I have no objection and I support strongly … the [health] benefit part of it, but that's the reason for my ‘no’ vote.”

The salary for city council members will go from $99,317 to $102,793. The mayor’s salary will increase from $158,652 to $164,205. 

Marlon Lara sits on the compensation commission and voted in support of the raise, but, he too, had reservations.

“I am concerned about the increase that is more than some city employees and how that plays out and what message we’re sending to the public about how we compensate people,” he said.

In accordance with California Assembly Bill 2040, the city of Sacramento maintains salary information, available in a state database, for elected officials, officers, and employees “in an effort to promote government transparency and openness,” according to the city’s website.