San Diego City Council Considers Salary Adjustments for Mayor and Elected Officials

Concerns over political motivations dominated the La Mesa City Council meeting on August 12, 2025, as members debated a proposed salary increase for elected officials. One council member expressed skepticism about the rationale behind the adjustments, suggesting that altruistic intentions were insufficient justification for the increase. “If you don’t have a legitimate reason why, other than, ‘we just want to help them out of the goodness of our hearts,’ then I have to go against it,” they stated, drawing parallels to past financial aid given to the city of San Diego during its flood crisis.

The council discussed a potential 10% salary increase for the mayor and council members, which would raise their monthly compensation to $2,090. The city treasurer's salary could increase to $1,210 if approved. This adjustment follows a previous ordinance adopted in November 2023, which set the stage for biannual reviews of elected officials' compensation.

City staff presented a comprehensive overview of current compensation rates for elected officials across San Diego County, highlighting that La Mesa's proposed adjustments align with allowable increases under government regulations. The council is expected to revisit the matter with a modification to the municipal code if the increase is approved.

As the meeting concluded, the council moved forward with the consent calendar, with all members voting in favor, but the discussion around salary increases left lingering questions about transparency and public trust in local governance.