By Tim Seyfert

Los Altos Hills’ highest paid official will soon take home a bigger paycheck.

City Manager Maureen Cassingham recently received a 7 percent raise, boosting her annual salary to $121,359, according to public council documents.

City council approved the change March 13 after conducting a routine annual performance review of Cassingham last month. As a result, council agreed to make three modifications to her employment agreement.

In addition to the raise, Cassingham will get 10 administrative leave days, increased from seven in her previous contract. Council also agreed to extend certain employee benefits for a duration of 90 days following her termination date; that is, if she isn’t fired for cause.

The recent salary hike isn’t the first for Cassingham since taking her current post. Last year, she earned a $7,000 raise over the $107,000 council first offered upon hiring her in 2001. She will now earn $14,000 more than her initial starting salary.

Among the more than 40 city employees currently on the payroll, Cassingham is one of four whose yearly paychecks surpass the $100,000 mark. Planning Director Carl Cahill, Administrative Services Director Sarah Joiner and City Engineer and Public Works Director Mintze Cheng make up the other three, with salaries ranging from around $104,000 to more than $112,000 a year.

As city manager, Cassingham oversees the day-to-day administration of the town’s operations and services, as well as the implementation of council policies.