From:
To: City Council
Subject: Are you out of your minds?
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 11:32:14 AM
Attachments:
Here’s what I sent:
So based on the information from transparent California (from 2023) below, I find it very difficult that you are now purposing to give your assistant city manager/city clerk a raise of $46,700 at a time when your city is in financial trouble.
I’ve heard the argument from others that state she is paid well below market rate. Compared to what I ask and whom? And how many other small cities like ours have an assistant city manager? And exactly what does she do as an assistant city manager? And what are her qualifications for said job? Base salary was $177,000 in 2023. Other compensation of $82,245 was for?! I’m confused! Your city does not have the wherewithal right now to pay for this unbudgeted raise. You could make this raise over the next five years possibly and give her small amounts yearly. You could make it conditional on Measure U passing and maybe your constituents could swallow that.
I am sure that Mary does a lot for the city. I don’t think that’s in question - what is in question is once again this city councils negligence when it comes to managing money. You do not have this sort of money to play with. You just raised your city water rates by double, you are asking them to vote today to increase taxes, you are going to most likely have them paying for fire service to the tune of $265 per household per year by merging with Goldridge fire, and you have the audacity on the day of the election where you are asking for support of a tax increase to put this on your agenda.
Quite ballsy folks, quite ballsy! This is a lot to ask people to pay for and then to throw this unbudgeted, extremely outrageous raise into their faces. Please rethink your priorities.
Jeanne Fernandes
Sent from my iPhone