By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council earlier this month approved an ordinance that will increase council member compensation to $1,900 per month, up from the current $600 per month.
The increase in monthly compensation was made possible by a new senate bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Vice Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa voted no on the ordinance, but did not give comment as to why.
Senate Bill 329, signed into law on June 29, 2023, amended a 1984 law that previously established defined salary limits to city councilmembers in California based on the population of their city. The new law went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
A chart provided by the city listing new maximum salary caps for councilmembers based on their city’s population indicates that in a city with a population between of 75,000 and 150,000 people, the maximum monthly compensation is $1,900. For reference, Citrus Heights has a population of roughly 86,000. City Attorney Ryan Jones advised the council that compensation could be set at any amount up to the maximum.
According to city staff, the newly established law acknowledges that the previous 1984 bill and corresponding compensation did not “keep pace” with inflation.
“SB 329 allows cities to compensate councilmembers at a salary level that enables them to balance careers and personal obligations with their dedicated commitment to serve the community,” city staff wrote, adding that monthly compensation had not been updated since the city’s incorporation in 1997, despite the cost of living increasing considerably over the last 25 years.
“It’s bizarre, but it’s a law,” Mayor Bret Daniels said, referring to the 1984 law that had capped compensation at $600.
When does it take effect?
Current restrictions in the Citrus Heights city code prohibit changes to compensation during the current term of office for all members of the council. Therefore, the ordinance will only become effective when a new member of the city council is sworn in, or when a current member begins a new term. Then, all councilmembers, regardless of their term end dates, will receive the same increase in compensation when any one member becomes eligible.
The fiscal impact of the increase in monthly salary will total an additional general fund expense of approximately $78,000 per year for salary increases for all council members, according to the city staff report. SB 329 also allows councilmember salaries to be increased above the $1,900 limit, by 5% per future calendar year, or an amount equal to inflation.
