Gonzalez Goes Against Move to Increase Salary of New City Manager

Last Tuesday, the voted 4 to 1 in favor of creating a higher salary and benefits package for South Gate’s future city manager. The new package will not affect the contract of , South Gate’s current city manager, who will be leaving his position in the fall.  Councilmember Henry Gonzalez disagreed with the measure, and placed the only dissenting vote.

“I don’t think we should negotiate against ourselves,” said Gonzalez. “I think we should keep it low.”

The new package that was approved moved the city manager salary of $175,000 a year to one that would range from $200,000 to $215,000. Gonzalez insisted that times were tough, and that any salary raise should wait.

“When times get better we can pay everyone more,” said Gonzalez.  “Not just the city manager.”

The majority of the members in the City Council saw things differently, and all expressed concerns over the current $175,000 salary being offered. The city  through research found that its current city manager's salary was 15 percent lower then other comparable cities. This was a fact that they felt would make it difficult for South Gate, as it tries to entice the best candidates.

Vice-Mayor Gil Hurtado expressed support for the proposed new salary range, and stressed the importance of offering a market rate package.

“Unfortunately, you have to pay what the going rate is,” said Hurtado to Patch after the meeting. “The only people that are going to come here if the salary is low are  those that are not as capable.”

Councilmember also highlighted the significance of being able to compete for good talent. Especially as the city continues to deal with the elimination of its redevelopment agency.  

“This keeps us competitive,” said Morales. “It gives us the opportunity to get somebody that can help the city move forward with issues of redevelopment.”

Mayor Bill De Witt also expressed his support for the package.  Citing that finding a diligent indvidual was crucial.

“It is very important that we have some competent people in our administration,” said De Witt. 

However, there are some who feel that salaries for city managers in California are too high. 

“Absolutely no government administrator should make more than the governor, who oversees a state with a population of 38 million, and receives $174,000 annually,” said Kris Vosburgh, executive director, at the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a non-profit organization, in a recent Patch Latino article on the salary of .

George Troxcil, South Gate’s current city manager, whose yearly salary is $144, 000, and who did not take a salary for his role as interim city manager last year, believes that the above comparison is not accurate.

Troxcil, underlined that the governor has a larger and more expensive staff. He also emphasized that both positions are different by the very nature that each is attained.

“[City managers] are not elected officials,” said Troxcil. “[The governor] is an elected official, and he takes on that responsibility for different reasons.” 

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South Gate Patch Latino previously reported that George Troxcil's salary was $175, 000. That was in fact the salary received by the previous city manager. Troxcil makes $144,000 a year. A correction was that first reported on this topic.