Sacramento’s City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a three-year contract for Maraskeshia Smith to become the city’s next city manager. Smith will begin on January 5, succeeding Interim City Manager Leyne Milstein, and will be the first Black woman to hold the position.
The city manager in Sacramento’s government structure acts as a council-manager, often referred to as a “weak-mayor” system. This means the city manager, not the mayor, serves as the city’s chief executive, overseeing daily operations, proposing budgets and hiring department heads. The mayor and council set policy and approve major actions, but don’t have the same administrative control.
Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes read the details of Smith’s contract at the meeting before the vote.
“This is a three-year contract that provides an annual salary of $399,000,” Talamantes said. “It also includes an auto allowance of $500 per month, a technology allowance of $150 per month and $50,000 for relocation expenses.”
Smith had served as Santa Rosa’s city manager from January 2022 through this month and in her career worked in local government for the cities of Stockton, Oakland and Cincinnati.
City documents show she’ll earn more than her predecessor’s base salary. Former City Manager Howard Chan faced criticism for his high pay while holding the position.
Talamantes also outlined additional benefits Smith would receive in the agreement. The contract provides management leave, 96 hours of sick leave at the start of employment, a $50,000 relocation allowance and nine months of pay if Smith is terminated without cause.
Councilmember Rick Jennings made the motion to approve the contract.
“I want to thank each one of you as well for your support in hiring what I think will be an excellent city manager,” Jennings said. “We are looking forward to her arrival.”
While the council voted unanimously, Mayor Kevin McCarty was absent.
Smith taking on the role follows a year-long transition that began after former City Manager Howard Chan resigned in December 2024. Chan’s nearly $400,000 salary and substantial leave cashouts made him one of the highest-paid city managers in California, leading the city council to reconsider how much it will pay its top boss.
In January, the council appointed Leyne Milstein as interim city manager at a salary of $352,000 while conducting a nationwide search. Smith was hired after a nine-month process. Smith will begin in January and oversee approximately 6,000 employees and a $1.6 billion city budget.
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