LEMON GROVE CITY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE A 3% RAISE; CITY MANAGER RECEIVES 5.5%

By: Jessyka Heredia

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December 22, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s City Council on Tuesday voted 3-0 (with Councilmembers Liana LeBaron and George Gastil both absent) for a 3% raise for all non-contracted employees. The Council also approved an amendment for a 3% increase to the City Managers pay, a half percent increase above what her contract states as well as an additional 2.5 making a total of 5.5% increase.

Back in October 2022, the Council voted to establish an Employee Equity Compensation Plan with the intent of getting staff wages increased within 5% of the market median. To accomplish this goal, equity adjustments are made on January 1 of each year.

Council approved the 3% increase for the Employee Equity Compensation Plan to continue in this effort.

The City Manager and City Attorney are both exempt from the Equity Compensation plan, as they are both contracted employees.

This year, Council formed a City Manager Review Committee comprised of Mayor Raquel Vasquez and Council member Gastil. The committee put an amendment on the agenda to add the additional half percent this year to a 3% increase for City Manager Lydia Romero.

City attorney Kristen Steinke stated, “The next lowest paid city manager is $45,000 above the City Manager of Lemon Grove.” Steinke explained, “There is an automatic 2.5% increase for cost of living in the City Managers contract” since she was hired in 2016, but due to budgetary considerations those first few years, The city manager waived the cost-of-living increase.”

Mayor Vasquez recalled, “In discussions in previous years, one thing the City Manager has said, ‘How can I take a 2.5% increase when other staff are not able to receive an increase?’”

During the Council’s opportunity for questions, Councilmember Alysson Snow asked if they were allowed to add an extra 2.5% to make the increase 5.5%, pointing out that Romero is the “lowest paid city manager” in the region and due to her not taking the previous increases.

In 2023 Romero was paid $179,368 as her base pay, according to Steinke. Romero also receives in added benefits, $31,000 according to Transparent California’s records for 2022. With the added 5.5% approved by Council yesterday, Romero’s base pay will now be increased to $189,233 plus benefits.

Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza commented, “I motion to approve this item as amended.”

Councilmember Snow seconded the motion.

ECM reached out to the City Manager Lydia Romero for comment on the approved increase, Romero responded, “I am humbled that the City Council saw fit to provide me an increase at the Tuesday night council meeting.”