FRESNO (KMJ) – The Fresno City Council has voted to override the veto of Mayor Lee Brand, effectively ending the practice of giving raises to city employees after they’ve given notice to quit.
The agenda item passed Thursday on a 6-0, bipartisan vote.
“When you are giving retroactive raises, you are inappropriately using taxpayer money, not matter how it gets rationalized on the other side,” Councilman Garry Bredefeld said.
In his veto message, Mayor Brand contended that the real issue was the council abusing the separation of powers.
Mayor Brand responded to Thursday’s vote by saying, “Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war.”
