The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to give the mayor a pay raise in an amount endorsed by Sheng Thao herself.
In a 6-2 vote Tuesday, the council decided to give Thao the lowest raise mandated by the city's charter -- 70% of the average salaries -- which amounts to an annual increase of $13, 202 and 49 cents.
It was a hotly debated topic. Some said Thao deserved a bump, others said it's a bad look for a city facing a massive budget deficit.
Thao was originally going to see her salary jump by about $75,000 a year -- for a yearly salary of $277,974.
The city is currently facing a record deficit of $360 million over the next two years. But its charter includes a rule that the mayor should make no less than 70%, and no more than 90% of the average salaries of city managers of six comparable California cities.
"First of all, you need to prove yourself,” said Cynthis Adams, the Oakland NAACP president.
The NAACP was among those organizations who have come out against the bump in pay. Adams said a raise for the mayor isn't the issue. A raise right now is.
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“But not at six months, as you don't have a chief of police, you don't have a fire chief, crime is up high," Adams said. "I mean, you can't even go down to Jack London Square without someone breaking into your car."
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The City Council had not raised the mayor's salary in 10 years.
Thao released a statement prior to the voting Tuesday saying in part, "I urge the City Council to set the Mayor’s salary at the lowest amount legally required by the City Charter. As a leader I know this is in the best interest of the City’s fiscal health, and it is also the right thing to do."
She went on to say that if the council approved a salary greater than what is legally mandated, she would've reject it and refunded any amount above the charter-required minimum salary.
Here is Mayor Thao's full statement:
"One of my goals coming into office was to ensure that Oakland city government lives up to the expectations of our residents, adhering strictly to all charter mandates, ensuring ethical decision making, and using an equity lens when making policy decisions. Since 1988, the City Charter has required the City Council to follow a clear process when reviewing and adjusting the salary of the Mayor.
"This year, given the significant financial challenges that the City is facing, I urge the City Council to set the Mayor’s salary at the lowest amount legally required by the City Charter. As a leader I know this is in the best interest of the City’s fiscal health, and it is also the right thing to do.
"I want the public to know that if the Council elects to move forward with approving a salary for the Mayor that is greater than that legally mandated, I will reject it and refund any amount that exceeds the Charter required minimum to the city to deliver services to our neighborhoods.
"Reforming our systems and our government is my mandate and I take it seriously. This is why I will also be working in partnership to craft a ballot measure that moves the responsibility for setting the Mayor’s salary from the City Council to the independent public ethics commission, as is now the case for other elected officials such as the City Attorney and City Auditor.
"It is my belief that we do not have to continue to do things the way they’ve always been done and under my Administration we’re not going to. Oaklanders deserve better.
"Finally, I want to say that I’m so grateful and encouraged by the engagement that we are seeing from our residents. This is how we build One Oakland for everyone."
