This was a moment for leadership; we missed it

At the March 24, 2026, Folsom City Council meeting, a decision was made that left me with a simple question: Are some of our city leaders focused on the right priorities? Folsom is facing real financial challenges. The city's own budget shows a structural deficit. We are relying on reserves and eliminating city positions to maintain financial health. Costs are rising, the city's income is stagnant, and difficult decisions are ahead. We need long-term thinking and disciplined leadership. And most importantly, we need trust. Residents are watching what the city does. They must become part of the solution. Our electorate must be engaged in supporting future revenue measures, understanding and participating in decisions involving difficult trade-offs. Unless people trust their leaders, these actions will not be well received. Trust grows when communities come together to solve problems. Without trust, even good ideas struggle to move forward. The recent decision to move forward with salary increases for City Council members is so disappointing because trust was further eroded. At a time when residents are being asked to prepare for difficult financial realities, this was an opportunity for leadership to set the tone by delaying a move to increase council salaries, as three council members voted to do. The messaging was contradictory. Most concerning is the lack of a clear explanation. There was no study presented. No urgency explained. No clear connection to a broader financial strategy. This increase was not even part of the mid-year budget review. There was also a point made that increasing compensation might encourage more people to run for office. Civic participation is important, but compensation alone is not what drives it. People step forward when they believe in the system and trust its leadership. When multi-term incumbents continue to run for reelection, the likelihood of new candidates entering the race is already limited. When combined with individual campaign contribution limits of $150, the system tends to favor incumbents who have established networks and name recognition. Raising salaries will not meaningfully change that dynamic. If the goal is to encourage broader participation, the focus should be on creating a more accessible and competitive system, not simply increasing compensation. This was a moment to reinforce that trust. The city referenced Senate Bill 329 in its presentation as a trigger. However, California Senate Bill 329 applies to general law cities and provides suggested compensation levels for council members in those cities. Folsom being a Charter City, it is not bound by these guidelines. The city's presentation did not make it clear that the Council salary change was a choice, not a requirement. Additionally, a City Charter review committee is considering a charter change to make it easier for the council to contract out services without voter approval. That is a significant shift, as it removes a level of direct public oversight on decisions that can have long-term impacts on services, costs and accountability. In 2024, Measure G failed. Many residents and even city leaders pointed to a lack of trust as a key reason. At the time, the message was simple: Before asking residents for more, the city needs to demonstrate discipline and sound financial judgment. Developing trust means aligning spending with long-term realities. It means protecting essential services. It means using reserves wisely. And it means leadership that sets the example for the community. Civic participation is important, but compensation is not what drives it. People step forward when they believe in the system and trust its leadership. Folsom deserves leadership that is thoughtful, transparent and focused on the long term. Folsom leaders must focus on what will drive our community forward. Key to that is trust in their plans. Jag Nagendra is a Folsom resident, community leader and candidate for Folsom City Council District 3. He brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across the private and public sectors and is an advocate for fiscal responsibility, transparent governance and community-centered leadership.