An Elk Grove citizen criticizes mayor, city council's 300% pay raise
The idea for the massive pay raise was broached by Councilman Suen at the August 14 city council meeting.
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.
