Fresno Unified School District board members have voted to more than double their pay. 

The board voted 6-1 on Jan. 14 to increase their monthly stipend, in accordance with state law. Trustee Andy Levine cast the lone vote against the increase. 

The backstory: Last year California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1390 into law. 

Authored by Asm. Jose Luis Solache (D–Lynwood), AB 1390 allows school district boards to increase their compensation. 

Districts with over 60,000 students, such as Fresno Unified, previously paid their board members up to $1,500 per month, with 5% annual raises, which Fresno Unified implemented in 2019. That took their monthly stipend to $2,111, per a report from McClatchy. 

AB 1390 allows school districts with over 60,000 students to pay their trustees up to $4,500 per month, which comes to $54,000 annually. 

Trustees for districts that have between 25,000 students and 60,000 students, such as Clovis Unified, are allowed to increase their pay from $750 per month to $3,000 per month under the new law. 

State of play: Fresno Unified trustees voted to increase their pay despite facing a budget deficit, which resulted in nearly $49 million in budget cuts for the 2025-2026 school year. 

What we’re watching: The increase in pay will take effect at the beginning of February. 

The increase in pay may prove to be temporary, depending on the district’s enrollment over the coming years. McClatchy reported that Fresno Unified projects its average daily attendance will drop below 60,000 by the 2027-2028 school year, which would cap the stipends at $3,000 per month. 

What they’re saying: Levine said that while he supports the spirit behind the law, the district’s deficit takes precedence. 

“The reality is that we are in a moment of operating under a budget deficit and having to make some difficult decisions over these next few months, if not longer. And so I am concerned about any action taken on this action while we’re in this current budget moment.” 

Trustee Keshia Thomas advocated for the increase, telling her colleagues not to take the pay bump if they do not want it. 

“Here’s my thing: If you don’t want it, don’t take it,” Thomas said. “But we work hard. I work hard. And city councils, supervisors – you name it – every board gets a stipend, and I don’t want anybody minimizing my opportunities. So that’s where I stand.”