Sacramento City Manger Position Gets $35K Increase

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Sacramento's new city manager is expected to make $35,000 more than the previous manager, bringing his salary up to more than $300,000 per year.

City officials say this is a critical job and have to hire the very best. Here's a look at the total compensation package as compared to the prior city manager of Sacramento: Gus Vina made $270,000 including benefits and retirement. The new city manager, John Shirey, will earn $305,000.

Retired Sacramento city manager Bill Edgar is serving as the interim city manager and defended Shirey's increased pay.

"Mr. Shirey is a very experienced, talented public manager. He has been a city manager before, and quite frankly, other than me, nobody has been appointed to this position with prior city manager experience. Mr. Shirey will be the second," said Edgar.

Edgar also said Sacramento is competing with other cities like Oakland that pay their city manager more.