OAKLAND – Mayor Barbara Lee is poised to have one advantage in taking on the city’s deep financial woes: she will have much more money to spend than her predecessor.

City officials are deciding on a new two-year budget that would pad the new mayor’s office budget with an extra $1.7 million, or a 42% increase. The spending boost would contrast sharply with the steep cuts — including possible layoffs — facing other city departments.

After taking office last month, Lee is in the process of hiring the equivalent of a dozen full-time staffers, slightly more than what was given to Sheng Thao, the ousted ex-mayor whom Lee, a famed former congresswoman, was elected in April to replace.

In a twist, each one of Lee’s staffers is slated to be promoted to the highest possible job classification: Sp

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