Elk Grove council members could get huge salary raise under new California law. Here’s how much

Elk Grove City Council members could see their pay more than triple, increasing for the first time in over a decade, following a new California law and a discussion during their Wednesday meeting.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in June 2023 approved Senate Bill 329 in 2023, which authorized increases in maximum salary for elected city leaders based upon the population of the city. Increases can be approved by an ordinance passed by the city council.

Elk Grove Vice Mayor Rod Brewer told The Sacramento Bee in a text message that the salaries of council members in Elk Grove have been the same since 2012.

“The Elk Grove City Council members’ salaries have been $800 per month,” Brewer said. “Current state law....now allows general law cities in California (including Elk Grove) to provide a maximum salary tied to city population.”

Council members, based on SB 329, are eligible to receive a salary increase that would raise their monthly salary to $2,550 per month, or $30,600 annually. Council members in cities with 150,001 to 250,000 residents can make that amount. Cities with a population of over 250,000 people max out at $3,200 per month ($38,400 annually).

Elk Grove’s population has increased to 178,679, according to an estimate from the California Department of Finance, from its previous 176,124 count that was recorded in the 2020 census.

“Elk Grove’s population, based on the most recent census numbers, places the city in the range between 150,000 and 250,000 which could allow for current council member salaries to increase,” Brewer said. “City council, with its full-time responsibilities, has been a part-time job with the salary to match.”

Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said in a text message: “most people think we do council for a living.”

They do not. Outside of council, Singh-Allen works full-time for a trade association, American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association, as president. Brewer is a government relations adviser for Southern California Edison, a utility company. Councilmember Darren Suen is chief of staff to California Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. Councilmembers Kevin Spease and Sergio Robles own their own businesses.

During a more than 40-minute conversation in Wednesday’s meeting, Elk Grove city attorney Jonathan Hobbs said that no action would be taken at this time.

“You’re allowed to set your salaries at the maximum amount that’s generally tied to population,” Hobbs said. “Now, of course, if you wanted to do something less, you could do that, but that would give you some flexibility.”

It is the first time that council members are bringing this up for discussion. It would need to be brought before the public at least one more time before it can be officially approved at a second meeting. The council’s next meetings regarding salary are scheduled for Sept. 25 and Oct. 9.

What are council members making now?

According to Transparent California, a database that lists salaries of city officials and agencies, all five Elk Grove council members made $9,600 in regular pay last year.

Singh-Allen made $10,800 in total pay and nearly an additional $32,000 in benefits.

Brewer’s total pay amounted to $17,950, with just under $5,000 in benefits which he said during Wednesday’s meeting that he forwent.

Robles made $15,634 with approximately $8,500 in benefits. Council members Suen and Spease raked in $18,600. For their benefits, a little over $4,000 was paid to Suen and just under $3,500 to Spease.

If they increased their salaries to the maximum $2,550, then council members would bring in $30,600 of regular pay. For the mayor, those figures could increase to over $60,000 including benefits and pension; and for council members that number could exceed $40,000 after benefits and pension.

What does the law say?

Under SB 329, population size is determined by the most recent federal census or estimate by the California Department of Finance.

Cities with a population up to 35,000 people can pay their council members up to $950 per month. That increases to $1,275 for cities with a population of 35,001 to 50,000 people. For a city population of 50,001 to 75,000 people, the monthly limit is $1,600 and increases to $1,900 a month for populations of 75,001 to 150,000.

According to SB 329, a city council could set population-based salaries, but increasing salaries beyond those amounts require a subsequent ordinance. The increased salary of council members should not exceed 5% for each year from the operative date of the last salary adjustment. The bill takes into account inflation since Jan. 1, 2024, which is based upon the California Consumer Price Index, but increases cannot exceed 10% for each calendar year with inflation considered.

All approved salary changes would go into effect at the beginning of a new term in December. Three positions are up for re-election in November: mayor (Singh-Allen), District 1 (Suen) and District 3 (Spease), but Suen and Spease are running unopposed.

Community feedback

There were Elk Grove residents in attendance during Wednesday’s meeting that commented on a potential raise for the council. Some opposed and some were for it with modifications.

“It’s no doubt that you will give yourself this raise,” said Elk Grove resident Cathy Lee. “The counsel’s compensation will start at $2,550 per month, which calculates to approximately $30,600 per year for a part-time job. A job that generally just approves whatever the staff recommends based on the city manager and the city attorney. $30,600 seems like an awful lot of money for a rubber stamp type of job.

“To state the obvious, if these council members and mayors do not like the job or aren’t happy with the compensation they receive, their options would be to step down or choose not to run again.”

Lee added: “I don’t object to a reasonable bump in compensation. I would ask that the counsel carefully consider a more reasonable compensation increase, something like 5% to 6% for the first year and then we can bring it back every year for another 5% or 6% — reasonable and in line with the amounts that other public service workers receive.”

Lynn Wheat suggests that the city develop an oversight commission that determines for each council member how much of a raise they should be awarded.

“You all chose these positions you chose to run for office. I didn’t ask you mayor to run. I didn’t ask any of you to run if it’s too much, if it’s too much to serve our community and you’re feeling like you’re losing too much, then step down,” Wheat said. “Otherwise, I think you ought to set up a salary commission that evaluates each one of you and this commission determines exactly how much of a raise you deserve.”

Savannah Brown, who recently moved to Elk Grove and has made it her point to get involved in the community, had a different view of the potential raises for council members.

“I’m thankful for the work that you guys do and I do think that you guys deserve to have a wage that reflects (that) work,” Brown said. “I do think that $43,000 or whatever is a little bit more than I make as a part-time preschool teacher. (So) I feel like that’s reasonable with how much you guys are doing...Give yourselves some grace.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 12:47 PM.