November 20, 2009 in Idaho

Why ITD will pay new chief so much more

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Betsy Russell photo

Brian W. Ness, new Idaho Transportation director
(Full-size photo)

BOISE - Idaho’s new transportation director is being paid $22,000 a year more than fired Director Pam Lowe because the department negotiated a salary that’s designed to be a substantial increase from Brian Ness’ current salary in Michigan, the department said Friday.

ITD initially reported Thursday that Ness would be paid $160,000 a year, but corrected that on Friday to $165,000. His salary as a Michigan transportation official was $118,000, according to ITD spokesman Jeff Stratten, but Ness also faces higher costs in Idaho, from a 15 percent increase in cost of living to higher costs for dental and life insurance and state retirement plan contributions.

Once those costs were calculated in, the $165,000 salary represents a 10 percent increase in Ness’ spending power, Stratten said.

Lowe, who is contesting her firing with a lawsuit that alleges sex discrimination and political pressure, made $143,000 a year, a salary that had risen steadily during her 15-year career at the department, in which she held several different positions. “Salary of the department’s director is negotiable,” Stratten said. “Pam received promotional increases as her responsibility within the organization grew.”

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, a civil engineer and vice-chairman of the Idaho House Transportation Committee, said, “It’s a difficult job market right now, and so when companies are cutting back and people are thankful to be hanging onto their jobs, I guess I’d like to see some justification as to why they needed to raise the pay so much.”

But he added, “I hope it’s a long-term appointment. I hope he does well in the job, and I hope we get to serve with the new director over several legislative sessions.”

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  MrObvious on November 21 at 1:51 p.m.

  Men always make more than women…duh

• 

  voxclamantis on November 29 at 11:04 a.m.

  How long are we, the body politic of Idaho, going to be treated as clueless morons? The salary issue concerning an unproven new director at ITD is yet another instance of the chronic, complete disregard by the governor, the legislature, and the ITD Board of the public interest. It costs more to live in Idaho than in Michigan? Oh please ! Should one move to Grosse Pointe rather than Horseshoe Bend, Ola or Pearl, then? It will soon become clear, in fact, that Ness (who would NOT have been selected and de facto bribed had he been an “Untouchable”), will act as a dupe in maintaining and furthering the same pathological (and possibly even CRIMINAL) dynamics that have infected ITD top-level activity for many years. It is high time for substantive, independent investigation of the charges brought forth. And not merely expressions of occasional outrage permitted by the media. Expressions that, though merited, go nowhere towards solutions.