On March 24, the Folsom City Council voted to raise their own salaries. In isolation, the raise itself was modest and unobjectionable – after all, in a city of a $266 million operating budget, the increase was barely a drop in the bucket. While compensation for public service is a topic for discussion and often inadequate, the timing and manner of this decision raise concerns about priorities, transparency, and trust.
Public office is, at its core, a commitment to serve the community. That service comes with responsibility – not only to make sound policy decisions, but to demonstrate accountability and awareness of the realities residents face. At a time when many families in Folsom are grappling with rising costs coupled with diminishing services, a vote to increase councilmember pay risks sending the wrong message.
It is not unreasonable for elected officials to receive fair compensation. However, there is a difference between fair compensation and self-approved raises that appear disconnected from the messaging the public hears. As recently as the last election, Folsom voters were asked to support a sales tax measure increase to support city services, or face cuts to those services. The voters sent a clear message and opted for the latter – and cuts did come. Cuts to the Fire Department, in particular, demonstrate the dire state of the city’s fiscal health. Among the many reasons for the failure of that tax were a lack of trust in city officials to be responsible financial stewards – ask yourself, does this vote help to engender that trust?
Alternative approaches would have been to defer the decision, to establish an independent review process, or put it to the voters. Many cities rely on third-party commissions or structured benchmarks to determine compensation for elected officials. This creates a layer of separation that helps maintain public confidence and reduces the perception of self-interest. I have advocated for a Budget Commission before, perhaps that is an approach that would work for Folsom. Alternatively, the City currently hosts an Ad Hoc Committee reviewing the City Charter – should there be an addition on how City Council compensation is determined that is put to the voters?
Trust in local government is built over time but can be eroded quickly. Even small decisions can have an outsized impact when they appear to prioritize elected officials over the people they represent. In this case, the optics matter just as much as the policy itself.
This is not about questioning the value of public service or discouraging qualified individuals from seeking office. Rather, it is about ensuring that decisions – especially those that directly benefit decision-makers – are handled in a way that reflects integrity, fairness, and respect for the community. While there is research supporting that candidate quality improves with increased compensation, the increase is not sufficient to make a difference for many residents that live paycheck to paycheck – so that argument falls somewhat flat.
Moving forward, the council has an opportunity to rebuild confidence by revisiting how compensation decisions are made. Establishing clearer guidelines, involving independent input, and ensuring robust public engagement would go a long way toward restoring trust. When my Association was faced with a similar situation in 2019, I opted to cut my own compensation to be a part of the budget solution. My successors were able to increase their compensation, but only after we were able to correct our structural budget deficit.
The March 24 vote may be behind us, but the citizens of Folsom still have the opportunity to have their voices heard on the issue. This was just the first reading, meaning that it will come back for a final vote at the next council meeting. There are also several upcoming Charter Review Committee meetings coming up for the public to express its perspective on the approval process. The silver lining is that the public, as a consequence of this vote, has become more engaged, informed, and passionate about local governance. Now is the time to have your voice heard – and the City will be all the better for it.
Justin Hurst is a Folsom resident and content creator with interest in local politics. He is the president and CEO of his company Maps and Meta Analysis.
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