Mariko Yamada, Democrat for State Assembly

Woodland - Yolo County Supervisor Mariko Yamada announced today that she would reject any automatic pay raise scheduled for July 1. Yamada turned down a similar salary increase in 2004 when Yolo County faced a tight budget year and instituted an employee furlough to avoid layoffs.

“Today, just as four years ago, I cannot in good conscience accept a pay increase during a fiscal downturn when our county employees are facing potential layoffs and our residents the loss of services,” said Yamada.

Yolo Supervisors’ salaries are set at 33% of judges’ pay, and could automatically increase July 1 after the state determines judicial salaries later this month.

Over the past few years Yolo County has been comparing compensation rates for county employees to regional benchmarks, including those salaries paid to Supervisors.

Two years ago, a regional survey found that Yolo County Supervisors’ salaries were 24% below the average pay of other area Supervisors and discussion has occurred at the Board on whether or not to adjust the compensation formula to a higher percentage of a judges’ salary. A staff recommendation to increase was supported by a majority of Supervisors, including Yamada, however, the Board tabled the measure in December 2006 and no such increase ever occurred.

Since that discussion, Yolo County’s budget situation mirrors that of other local governments across the state and efforts have turned from salary benchmarking to belt-tightening.

Yamada notified Yolo County Auditor-Controller Howard Newens on May 21 that she would decline any new salary adjustment. “Mariko’s always demonstrated restraint with the taxpayer’s money. Over the last seven years on the Board there’s no doubt that she’s very fiscally prudent and strives to uphold the public trust.”

County employees view the move as nothing out of the ordinary for Yamada. “Our members applauded Supervisor Yamada’s refusal to take a raise four years ago, and they applaud her once again for showing such budgetary leadership,” said Perry Bonilla, Assistant Business Manager, Stationary Engineers, Local 39, the union that represents most Yolo County employees.
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