For the sixth time in four decades, City Council members in Santa Maria got a bump in their salaries. They’ll make an extra $341 per month starting in December.
The Santa Maria City Council voted 3-2 on Aug. 4 to approve the increase. Mayor Alice Patino will earn around $2,298 per month and the rest of the council members will make $2,048.
“I understand the intent behind this is to encourage community members, residents, to take on the job or run for local office and ensure that there is more opportunity for people to see themselves serving in this role,” Councilmember Gloria Soto said. “I will say that I, at the moment, cannot support this.”
Soto cited the city’s budget deficit and a potential sales tax increase hitting the ballot as reasons why she didn’t support the raise.
The other dissenting voice was Councilmember Ricardo Batalla, who was appointed to fill the 1st District seat in April. Batalla said he didn’t take the position for the money.
“I just do it to help out the community and do what’s best for Santa Maria, not so much me or … my résumé,” Batalla explained.
Councilmember Maribel Aguilera was in favor of the raise. Even though Aguilera’s term is up in November and she won’t see the financial benefits, she said it’s a way for her to “leave things better for the council” when she’s gone.
“The reason why I think we need to support this is because we do want to encourage other people in the community to run for office. A lot of the people that I speak to in the community who would like to run for office say, ‘I can’t afford it. I have a young family,’” Aguilera said. “This is, at least for me, an attempt to get other people to serve our community who would be really good at bringing new ideas.”
Most recently, council members received a raise in March 2022 for a monthly salary of roughly $1,706. Increases also came in 2016, 2008, 2005, and 2001, according to the staff report.
Santa Maria is one of the larger cities on the Central Coast, with a population of more than 110,000 people, but the council’s pay isn’t proportional when compared to smaller cities.
“Santa Barbara is approximately 22 percent smaller in population, and their salaries are approximately 209 percent higher than the city of Santa Maria’s,” City Manager David Rowlands said at the meeting.
Since Santa Maria is a charter city, the council can increase its own salary. The cap is based on population. Government code allows for a 5 percent increase each year going as far back as the council’s last salary adjustment.
The ordinance is planned to be adopted at the next regular City Council meeting.
This article appears in August 13 – August 20, 2026.
