Starting Tuesday, Fresno Unified trustees will receive a $100 monthly raise — without lifting a finger.

On Sept. 18, 2019, the trustees unanimously approved automatic 5% raises yearly, starting on Oct. 1, 2019, and every July 1 since. Five members who voted in favor remain on the board — Valerie Davis, Veva Islas, Keshia Thomas, Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, and Claudia Cazares.

By state law, the maximum trustees in a district of Fresno Unified’s size can earn is $1,500. However, trustees are allowed to increase the pay beyond that amount in 5% yearly increments.

This year, the trustees’ monthly pay increases from $2,010 to $2,110, or $25,327 per year. Six of the seven trustees also opted into the district’s health care plan, costing taxpayers another $22,000 per year. Susan Wittrup opted out, but as a retired district employee, she receives retirement health benefits.

A proposed state law would increase the cap from $1,500 per month to $7,500, again with the allowable 5% yearly increase beyond the maximum. The bill, AB 1390, will be heard by the state Senate appropriations committee on Monday, June 30.

At the current 5% per year increase cap from the $1,500 base, it would take 27 more years before Fresno Unified trustees reach $7,500 under the current system.

Clovis Unified and Central Unified trustees earn $750 and $400 per month, respectively.

A Light Fresno Council Meeting

The Fresno City Council wrapped up its Thursday open-session meeting in 87 minutes. A light agenda, City Council President Mike Karbassi said. Most of the items were routine.

The council voted to extend an agreement with the Urban Peace Institute for an anti-violence program through November at no additional cost. However, the vote was not unanimous — Karbassi voted no. Last year, a graduate of the institute was arrested on stolen gun charges. The city provides $300,000 in public funding for the program. After the incident, the city required more vetting to continue receiving funds.

Diane Carbray Honored

Without Diane Carbray, the Fresno Grizzlies may not exist. With her, the Fresno community benefited.

Carbray plans to retire after serving nearly 20 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, the last eight as president and CEO.

The Fresno City Council honored her with a proclamation on Thursday.

She and her husband, John, moved to Fresno in the 1990s to help spearhead the return of professional baseball in Fresno, creating interest and advocating for the construction of a new downtown stadium.

“We chose Fresno because of the young population and it’s a great city, great sports city,” Carbray said.

As part of the Fresno Diamond Group, the company bought a Pacific Coast League franchise and moved the team to Fresno in 1998. John, a veteran sports and entertainment promoter, led the effort. He died in 2019.

Carbray said she plans to travel and move back to her native Kansas.

A fun note — before Carbray moved to Fresno, she was a Diplomat — as ticket manager for the Washington Diplomats professional soccer club in the 1970s.