Elk Grove citizen says mayor, city council's self-approved 300% pay raise has 'Appearance of being shady'
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2024/11/citizen-says-mayor-city-councils-self.html
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| Elk Grove citizen Kirk Thompson questioning the timing of the mayor and city council's massive pay raise. | |
During the Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Elk Grove City Council meeting, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and three of her four city councilmen were criticized for their recent pay raise.
Speaking during public comment on non-agenda items, Elk Grove resident Kirk Thompson objected to the timing and process of four city council members' votes to approve their 300 percent pay raise. At the September 25 city council meeting, Singh-Allen, along with councilmen Rod Brewer, Sergio Robles, and Darren Suen, with a dissenting vote from Councilman Kevin Spease, granted themselves a 300 percent pay raise effective later this year.
Mr. Thompson said he did not object to the raise. However, he questioned the timing of the request for the pay raise, saying it gave the "appearance of being shady." Thompson's entire commentary can be viewed in the video.
The idea for the massive pay raise was broached by Suen at the August 14 city council meeting. Suen was just reelected unopposed to another four-year term and suggested the pay increase after the candidate filing deadline had passed.
Additonally, Suen suggested exploring the pay raise just prior to his separation from his job as California Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen's Chief of Staff. Suen started the job in January and drew an annual salary of $170,000.
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2 comments
“all public employees have larceny in their hearts or they wouldn’t be feeding at the public trough”
Robert A. Heinlein
Mr. Thompson is much too kind. He doesn't have a problem with out part-time council giving themselves a 300% raise paid for by the taxpayers? A 300% raise for a part-time public service job is unheard of. Every taxpayer should be appalled.
Mr. Thompson is correct in exposing the council opened this issue of raises only after the filing deadline to run for their offices had closed. That was not coincidence. That is selfish greed. That is the character of your council. Hopefully, these huge raises will bite them in the ass come next election cycle and we'll have many more options to vote for, no one will be running unopposed in the future. You better start listening to your constituents!
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