The Sacramento City Council and Mayor Kevin Johnson are getting a two percent pay boost, following a vote by the city’s compensation committee Monday. That brings their annual salaries to $67,087 and $127,722 annually, or $73,087 and $136,922 once expenses are included.
No one took issue with the pay raises per say, but at least one committee member questioned what the city is actually getting in return. That’s because, of the 39 meetings held between Oct. 20 and July 19, Mayor Johnson has missed 16 and left another 16 early.
“He knows what the schedule’s like,” said committee member David Bach. “I mean, can’t he work around it somehow?” Bach asked whether Johnson could have his pay docked, but was informed that a censure by council members was the only possible remedy.
Johnson decided not to seek reelection and is on his last leg with the city. He only has a few months left before Mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg takes over.
In addition to the pay hike, committee members voted to form a commission to research the benefits of a full-time council Monday. Right now, most members are dividing their time between council duties and outside private employment.
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