Questions Raised Over San Jose Mayor's Pay

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is drawing scrutiny over the pay and resources attached to a full-time city job as he campaigns statewide for governor. Bay Area News Group reported on May 21 that Mahan has continued to receive one of the region’s highest mayoral salaries while missing more than a third of City Council meetings during the first months of his campaign. The questions land during San Jose’s budget season, when the mayor and council are weighing spending choices amid a projected shortfall. Mahan has said he still treats serving as mayor as his primary job. ### How much is Mahan paid as mayor? Matt Mahan received $220,479.48 in regular pay in 2024, plus $6,000 in other pay, according to Transparent California’s compilation of public payroll records. The same record lists $23,964.47 in benefits, for total pay and benefits of $250,443.95. The Mercury News reported that Mahan is still drawing the region’s second-most expensive salary for his day job while traveling the state as a candidate for governor. Bay Area News Group’s separate attendance analysis tied that compensation question directly to his meeting record at City Hall. ### How often has he been away from council meetings? (transparentcalifornia.com) A Bay Area News Group analysis found Mahan missed seven of 19 San Jose City Council meetings and study sessions over roughly 3 1/2 months after launching his gubernatorial campaign. The report said that amounted to more than a third of the sessions held during that period. (mercurynews.com) The Mercury News said more than half of those absences coincided with campaign events or debates. The report framed the issue as a test of how Mahan is balancing the city’s day-to-day work with a statewide race built around management and accountability. ### Why is the timing sensitive for San Jose? (mercurynews.com) San Jose’s budget calendar puts the mayor at the center of spending decisions in the spring. The city’s budget office says Mahan’s June budget message for fiscal year 2026-2027 will be published on June 1 and will go to the council on June 9. (mercurynews.com) KQED reported in January that Mahan’s campaign for governor began as city leaders prepared a new spending plan and while San Jose faced fiscal pressure. KQED cited an early city manager estimate putting the city’s budget shortfall at $55 million to $65 million. ### What has Mahan said about juggling both roles? (sanjoseca.gov) Mahan told KQED in January, “I still wake up every day thinking about my primary job, which is being mayor.” He has argued that his record in San Jose gives him a case to make to voters statewide. KQED also reported that Mahan’s allies and critics on the council are split over whether the governor’s race is a distraction. (kqed.org) Councilmember Pamela Campos told the outlet that “too often” decisions driven by what “sounds good” politically do not always mean “it’s what is best for our community.” ### What city resources are in view? (kqed.org) San Jose’s budget documents show the mayor’s office is part of the city’s annual operating budget process, and the city maintains dedicated budget pages for the mayor’s office and council appointees. The city’s compensation page says total compensation includes salary and benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits, paid holidays and sick leave. (kqed.org) The Mercury News’ May 21 report focused attention on the combination of salary, benefits and office budget at a moment when Mahan is asking voters to judge his management record while he remains in office. That reporting, and the separate attendance analysis published the same day, put concrete numbers around a debate that had previously been more political than administrative. (sanjoseca.gov) ### What happens next at City Hall? June 1 is the next dated milestone in the city’s budget process, when Mahan’s June budget message is scheduled for publication on the city’s budget page. June 9 is the council date listed by the city for consideration of that message, as Mahan continues his campaign in the run-up to California’s June 2 gubernatorial primary. (sanjoseca.gov) (mercurynews.com)