Modesto mayor and council getting their first raise since 2008. One member says it should be more

Kevin Valine
·2 min read

The Modesto City Council is getting its first pay raise since 2008, with council members’ annual compensation increasing from $24,000 to $30,000 and the mayor’s from $43,200 to $54,000.

The City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday to increase the compensation based on the recommendations of the Citizens’ Salary Setting Commission.

The City Charter, which serves as an operating manual for the city, limits what the salary setting commission and council can do regarding council compensation.

The charter gives the council two choices: It can accept the recommendations or set the compensation at lower amounts.

A 2008 amendment to the charter approved by voters states council members can be paid no more than 50% of the Modesto’s median family income and the mayor no more than 50% of the salary of a Stanislaus Superior Court judge.

The median family income is $73,375, so half of that is $36,687.50. Judges earn $238,479, so half of that is $119,239.50, according to the city. The city does not provide council members and the mayor with health insurance.

Councilman Chris Ricci reiterated his position Tuesday that the compensation is too low, especially for the mayor. (Mayor Sue Zwahlen, who is retired, has said she works a minimum of 60 hours a week.) Ricci has said that representing a city of about 220,000 residents is a full-time job and that not paying a living wage limits those who can serve.

“Thanks to these recommendations, we will continue to get professionals, retired people or people who don’t (need to) work” Ricci said at a previous council meeting. “And the overwhelming majority of Modestans are out.”

An advocate for paying the council more said doing so would ensure that candidates from all socioeconomic backgrounds could run for office and would bring a different perspective to city government.

The City Council would have to ask voters to approve amending the City Charter to increase council compensation.

The compensation increases approved Tuesday will require a second and final approve at the council’s next meeting and would take effect 30 days after that.