Should Stockton’s mayor and city council members make more — or less — money?
Every other year, a citizens’ board is tasked with answering that question.
The board kicked off at city hall last week to review the council’s current paychecks: $111,112 a year including benefits for the full-time mayor, and $29,364 with no benefits for councilmembers, who are part-time.
The average Stocktonian makes about $67,000 a year, according to data from the job search site ZipRecruiter.
Through April, the five Stockton residents that make up the board have the authority to suggest new maximum salaries to the council and hear public feedback. New salaries would take effect after the November 2024 election.
Big decisions, small turnout
This year’s board is run by onetime political consultant and 209 Times founder Motecuzoma Sanchez, who was appointed by a civil service commission along with two other new members last month.
Sanchez may be a surprising choice to review council salaries: his website is known for tirades about certain public officials, including current councilmembers. In 2015, the city council shot down his appointment to a different board amid a tense meeting.