(FOLSOM, CA) — As the Folsom City Council convened Tuesday night, a simmering tension between city leadership and residents came to a boil over the council’s decision to approve an over 200 percent salary increase for its members.
The vote, which would raise their current pay of $7,200 per year ($600/month) to $22,800 per year ($1,900/month), came at a time when the city is grappling with budget constraints, reduced public safety services, and a community demanding transparency and restraint.
The meeting opened with a series of public comments that set the tone for the evening. Residents voiced frustration over what they saw as a disconnect between the council’s actions and the city’s financial reality.
Kevin Goddard, the first speaker, addressed the council directly: “I’m here tonight because I’m concerned that the messaging you’ve been sending to the people in the city are not in alignment with your recent actions….”
“... I trusted that leadership would lead by example, as some of you have. That’s why I’m concerned now,” Goddard said. “We’ve seen a fire station browned out, staffing reduced, and services outsourced, yet at the same time a few of our leaders have sought to increase competition for their roles. ... I’m not saying you shouldn’t get paid, but getting a raise is not something that should be part of any conversation until the city is back on its feet and all of the services have been restored. ... Trust is earned in teaspoons and it is lost in buckets.”
His concerns were echoed by Alexis Goddard, who said, “You guys are browning out fire stations, that’s a public safety issue. ... Now’s not the time to be asking yourselves for pay increases. I think this could be tabled and addressed at a later issue once the city is back on budget. ... You all knocked on our doors and asked for a vote to better our city, not a vote to better yourselves, and I want you to think about that.”
Throughout the meeting, the council heard repeated calls for restraint and transparency. Margie Donovan, a homeowner, spoke virtually during the public hearing on the salary ordinance: “I do believe that $600 a month, however I’m not convinced we should more than triple that, especially at a time which we all know the city is in a financial challenge. I would really urge you guys to consider this and the impact and the social media chats about how this is being perceived and how it would further divide the residents of the city of Folsom and the city council. I think we are in a fragile time, and for both reasons, I would urge you to vote ‘no’ on this and come back with a new proposal….”
Shelley Hudson, a 28-year resident, added, “Increasing council salaries can have real benefits and it can make public service more accessible, reduce financial barriers to running for office, and potentially lead to more diverse representation in local government. Those are important goals and they deserve consideration; however, a 200 percent increase, especially all at once, risks undermining those benefits in the eyes of the public. ... At a time when many residents are dealing with rising costs, housing pressures, and economic uncertainty, such a large increase can appear disconnected from the community’s reality.”
As the council moved to vote, the split was evident. Some members pledged not to accept the increased salary, while others argued that higher compensation would make public service more accessible to a broader range of residents. Councilmembers Anna Rohrbough, Mike Kozlowski, and Mayor Justin Raithel voted in favor, and Councilmembers Barbara Leary and Sarah Aquino voted opposed.
Councilmember Leary addressed the concerns: “We did have a report on the budget in March which indicated that we had not had to dip into the $3 million that was anticipated previously in our rainy-day fund and had made some adjustments so that we were at this time anyway around $700,000. ... I agree that this is not the time to give ourselves a raise.”
Councilmember Aquino stated, “I will continue to take $600 per month and it won’t in any way affect the amount of time or effort that I devote to this position.”
The debate over council compensation unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing public safety concerns. Earlier in the meeting, the Fire Chief presented a detailed update on the department’s deployment model, highlighting challenges such as browned-out engines, staffing reductions, and the need for cost-cutting measures. Residents and council members alike questioned whether the city’s priorities were in order.
As the meeting adjourned, the message from the public was clear: Folsom residents are watching closely, and trust in city leadership is at stake. This change will take effect in December 2026, after the next election cycle.
Story image of Folsom Resident Kevin Goddard speaking to the council was provided by Metro Cable 14 YouTube video. Submit Folsom story tips and ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com
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