Citrus Heights City Council approves city manager salary increase

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council recently approved an employment agreement amendment for City Manager Ashley Feeney, raising his annual salary to $290,000. The request for an employment agreement amendment came following the city manager’s annual performance evaluation, which was held during a closed session in March.

The city manager has received favorable performance evaluations but has not received a merit-based salary or cost-of-living increase, city attorney Ryan Jones said Wednesday, April 9 during the City Council meeting.

The results of a compensation comparison done by city staff showed that Feeney had the lowest salary of other comparable agencies, the city said in a staff report. The performance of Feeney and the compensation at comparable agencies were considered by the City Council in negotiating an amendment to the city manager’s employment agreement.

The City Council also took into consideration that the median annual retirement costs for the other agencies for their top administrators were $37,429, as their members are Classic Public Employee Retirement System members. Feeney is not a “classic” member of the CalPERS system but is a “PEPRA” member, which has a formula that is based on the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013, which significantly altered the way CalPERS retirement benefits are applied. Feeney’s annual retirement costs are $14,638.

Effective upon the City Council’s approval on April 9, Feeney’s new annual salary will be $290,000 with a monthly base salary of $24,167.

A table listed in the city’s staff report shows Feeney’s new monthly base salary will be less than most other neighboring agencies. The city manager will also receive a $500 car allowance per month.

Other terms of the agreement that are being amended include that the term of the at-will employment agreement will be ongoing until either party terminates the agreement. The amended agreement will provide for a 45-day notice period if terminated by the employee, unless the termination is for retirement, then a 90-day notice will be provided.

According to the California State Controller’s Government Compensation in California website, in 2023, Feeney’s total wages were listed as $274,351. In the same year, the total wages for Roseville’s city manager were listed as $344,911, Folsom’s city manager earned $303,000, and Sacramento’s City Manger’s total wages were listed as $593,240. Annual salary information for 2024 has yet to be released.