Santa Maria City Council Approves Pay Raises Despite Opposing Stances Ahead Of Midterms

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - The Santa Maria City Council approved an increase in salary for those who serve on the dais at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The motion passed with a narrow divide of 3 in favor and 2 opposed, including interim District 1 councilman Richard Batalla.

Brief discussion on the matter took place Tuesday evening as they voted on the motion.

Mayor Alice Patino and District 5 council member Gloria Flores joined District 4 council member Maribel Aguilera in favor of a roughly $350 per month raise in salary for all city council members.

While Patino and Flores think the city can afford it despite its budget deficit, Aguilera says it won’t benefit her but subsequent council members, as her term ends this November and she is running for a seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

Aguilera feels the raise will both incentivize and benefit those who fill the seats after this election.

District 3 council member Gloria Soto expressed opposition to the timing of the pay raise in light of the city’s budget woes.

Richard Batalla was appointed to fill the District 1 seat after Carlos Escobedo vacated less than halfway into his term.

Batalla must campaign for this November’s election to remain in the seat until the current term ends in 2028, and he strongly emphasizes he isn’t serving for money.

He is officially launching his campaign at Oakley Park tonight at 5:30, and he firmly states this pay raise from city council won’t benefit his own bank, but rather his district and community.

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