Blog Patrol
From Thursday’s Huckleberries Online Topic: Public sector compensation
D.F. Oliveria: A Berry Picker sent HBO Central a list of top salaries for the city of Coeur d’Alene, wondering if they might be an issue in the 2009 municipal elections. I’ll include the top dozen and a half or so. Another seven are earning $80,000 to almost $95,000:
$120,595 – city attorney. $118,258 – city administrator. $107,661 – finance director and fire chief. $106,314 – deputy city administrator. $103,230 – two police captains. $99,163 – police chief. $96,138 – recreation director, engineering services director, parks director, wastewater superintendent, human resources director, water superintendent, city clerk, planning director.
Question: Are these salaries in line for the type of work the individuals do and the size of Coeur d’Alene?
Sue: The benefits are pretty terrific, also.
JBelle: Sue, the benefits are second to none. Repeat slowly: second to none. (exhale)
Aliasjax: Looks reasonable to me …
Dr_Chuckles: In my limited experience, the salary for the finance director actually seems low, though I am basing my comparison on private enterprise and assumptions as to what his job duties may encompass.
toadman: Dr_Chuckles is correct, however, people working in the public sector often make considerably less than those in the private sector. The only difference is, for those who work in the public sector, one’s salary is a matter of public record, to be scrutinized by all. People in the private sector can hide what they make.
eagleeye: I think if someone was to compare these jobs to similar jobs in like-size cities in the state of Idaho you would find that they are pretty high. A recreation director in a town of 35K making $96K a year? The job market is like any financial market. It is about supply and demand. Most government agencies I know of have caps on positions. Seems to me the city of CdA does not. These salaries are too high for the Idaho market.
Fishwife: City attorney is grossly overpaid. Both city administrators make a combined almost quarter-million/year. Good grief! Isn’t the city administrator married to the fire chief? Nice gig.
Don Sausser: So, Fish, should the level of pay be moderated when two people work for one company?