Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is set to receive an approximate $75,000 salary increase just six months after taking office.
Amounting to about a 38% raise, the increase would bring her annual earnings to nearly $278,000 if approved at an upcoming council meeting on July 18th.
The proposed salary adjustment comes as Oakland faces the largest budget deficit in its history. Oakland officials have said the city is saddled with a staggering projected budget deficit of roughly $325-345 million in its General Purpose Fund, which makes up about 40% of the city’s total spending each year.
Oakland officials claim that the increase would be covered by existing salary savings in the budget.
Comparatively, San Francisco Mayor London Breed reportedly earned approximately $357,000, according to data from the state controller.
Mayor Thao has yet to comment on the proposed raise.