FRESNO (KMJ) — Fresno City Council has approved a pay increase for future members. Instead of $65,000 a year, those starting a new term of office will receive $80,000 a year for their service to their constituents.
The 23% jump was described as long overdue by the bill’s sponsor Councilmember Oliver Baines.
“There’s nothing average about being a councilmember. The average person does not work a 40 hour a week job and then come and work another full time job and have the responsibility of making decisions for half a million people every week.”
As well as boosting wages, the original bill would have linked future increases to 66% of the base salary of members of Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Councilmember Garry Bredefeld objected to that section during Thursday’s meeting.
“I would request that we take out the tying it to supervisor’s salary, because we always want to be accountable to our constituents.”
The amended ordinance was approved 5-2, with Councilmembers Clint Olivier and Steve Brandau voting against.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
