Pacific Grove Posing Pay Raise Question to Voters

The Pacific Grove City Council decided to put their previously passed pay raise on the 2026 ballot at their meeting on Wednesday night. This comes after a successful referendum that saw nearly 1700 signatures gathered to counter an ordinance that would have increased the council and mayor's pay by 130%.

Councilmembers defended the raise tonight, saying that it's been 27 years since the last increase in council compensation, and despite the large percentage increase, it could still be seen as a cost of living adjustment.

Meanwhile, some people who spoke during public comment were the ones hitting the streets to gather the signatures for the referendum, who claimed that locals were chasing them down for the opportunity to sign the petition. People saying that the council doesn't listen to them.

Next steps for the council include introducing an ordinance at their next meeting to repeal the pay raise, then they can bring forward a discussion for putting the issue on the 2026 ballot. The council deciding to let voters choose their pay checks' fate.