Santa Maria City Council approves council pay raises and airport policing deal

The Santa Maria City Council approved two significant measures during its Tuesday night meeting involving municipal compensation and public safety.

Council members voted 3-2 to approve a salary increase of approximately $350 per month for all city council members. Proponents, including Mayor Alice Patino and council members Gloria Flores and Maribel Aguilera, argued the city can afford the raise despite a budget deficit. Opponents, including interim District 1 councilman Richard Batalla and District 3 member Gloria Soto, expressed concerns regarding the timing of the increase given the city's budget challenges.

Additionally, the council approved an agreement with the Santa Maria Public Airport District to return law enforcement duties to the Santa Maria Police Department. Under the new three-year contract, the airport district will fund one full-time officer, paying an initial $265,500 for the first year. This marks a shift from the previous arrangement where the Guadalupe Police Department provided these services for the past nine years.