FRESNO (KMJ) — A proposal to increase the amount paid to Fresno City Councilmembers was removed from the agenda by its sponsor.
District 3’s Oliver Baines explained Thursday morning that he made that decision so that officials could figure out a method of ensuring raises were properly considered.
“We can explain to the public why we think the salaries should be set forth as they should,” Baines told Fresno City Council.
“We’ve never had a real good process as a body for setting forth salaries.”
The original motion set out a plan to increase the compensation to $80,000 for Councilmembers starting a new term of office. The current $65,000 salary was set in 2006.
“People in office now will not get the benefit,” revealed Mayor Lee Brand. “Oliver Baines is leaving, Clint Olivier is leaving.
Esmeralda Soria and Luis Chavez have an election. If they win in 2019 they benefit from it.
Steve Brandau would not benefit because he’s on his final term. If Garry Bredefeld runs for reelection he would benefit in 2020.
“It’s kind of a mixed bag. I think there’s good motives there.”
The motion is expected to return to Fresno City Council’s agenda early 2018.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
