Some city officials earn $100K-plus salaries
Let’s take a look at the pay earned by the city’s top officials and those who set the wages and benefits:
--During the most recent calendar year, Yorba Linda had 91 full-time employees, with 12 earning wages in the $100,000-plus class, or 28 when benefits were added, according to a new chart on the city website.
Of course, Steve Rudometkin, the 27-year Parks and Recreation director who was named City Manager in August 2010 after the surprise resignation of Dave Adams after only one year on the job, is the city’s highest-paid employee.
Rudometkin’s annual salary is $199,200, but since he worked for the city for nearly 21 weeks last year, he earned $80,064 or $113,977 when other compensation and benefits were calculated. He rescinded his PERS retirement to avoid a “double-dipper” label.
The city’s next-highest paid employee was Mark Stowell, who holds the titles of Public Works Director and City Engineer, the only individual in the $200,000-plus category in the past year. Stowell’s wages were $165,433 for a total $215,365 with benefits.
Closest in compensation were Finance Director Dave Christian and Community Development Director Steve Harris. Christian’s pay was $144,229 or $188,654 with benefits, while Harris earned $141,455 or $186,213 with benefits.
Next on the pay ladder were Library Director Melinda Steep and Assistant City Engineer Jacki Niemi. Steep’s pay was $131,094 or $177,114 with benefits while Niemi’s pay was $128,731 or $174,252 with benefits.
Normally, the next-highest paid employee would be the Parks and Recreation director, with a salary range between $123,012 and $149,520. But Bill Calkins, hired to replace early retiree Sue Leto, earned $80,149 or $110,032 with benefits for part of the year.
Other salaries and total compensation by titles in the $100,000-plus club include traffic engineering manager ($122,275 and $164,141), public works superintendent ($115,157 and $158,957), financial services manager ($113,311 and $152,261), information systems manager ($111,870 and $156,770) and building official ($107,034 and $149,902).
The lowest-paid was a library clerk at $32,859 ($50,383 with benefits).
--Total compensation for City Council members last year ranged from $771 for Tom Lindsey, in office less than a month, to $22,564 for Mark Schwing. The others: John Anderson, $20,913; Nancy Rikel, $19,376; and Jim Winder, $18,419.
The $6,000 annual salary is supplemented by medical insurance or an “in lieu” payment if medical is declined, redevelopment agency pay, phone allowance, dental and vision, a PERS pension for which the city pays employer and employee contributions and smaller amounts for Medicare, worker’s compensation, employee assistance and health overhead.
--This city’s rep at the county Municipal Water District, Brett Barbre, a past Yorba Linda Water District director, also serves on the Metropolitan Water District board. He tried to reduce a generous benefit package that included 401(k)s, 457(b)s and pensions but didn’t get much support from other directors and lost on a 27-6 vote.
--The Orange council will consider eliminating all salaries and benefits paid to members. Yorba Linda’s council, which has touted past conservative votes, such as supporting an Arizona immigration law and returning a federal earmark, should discuss similar action.
--During the most recent calendar year, Yorba Linda had 91 full-time employees, with 12 earning wages in the $100,000-plus class, or 28 when benefits were added, according to a new chart on the city website.
Of course, Steve Rudometkin, the 27-year Parks and Recreation director who was named City Manager in August 2010 after the surprise resignation of Dave Adams after only one year on the job, is the city’s highest-paid employee.
Rudometkin’s annual salary is $199,200, but since he worked for the city for nearly 21 weeks last year, he earned $80,064 or $113,977 when other compensation and benefits were calculated. He rescinded his PERS retirement to avoid a “double-dipper” label.
The city’s next-highest paid employee was Mark Stowell, who holds the titles of Public Works Director and City Engineer, the only individual in the $200,000-plus category in the past year. Stowell’s wages were $165,433 for a total $215,365 with benefits.
Closest in compensation were Finance Director Dave Christian and Community Development Director Steve Harris. Christian’s pay was $144,229 or $188,654 with benefits, while Harris earned $141,455 or $186,213 with benefits.
Next on the pay ladder were Library Director Melinda Steep and Assistant City Engineer Jacki Niemi. Steep’s pay was $131,094 or $177,114 with benefits while Niemi’s pay was $128,731 or $174,252 with benefits.
Normally, the next-highest paid employee would be the Parks and Recreation director, with a salary range between $123,012 and $149,520. But Bill Calkins, hired to replace early retiree Sue Leto, earned $80,149 or $110,032 with benefits for part of the year.
Other salaries and total compensation by titles in the $100,000-plus club include traffic engineering manager ($122,275 and $164,141), public works superintendent ($115,157 and $158,957), financial services manager ($113,311 and $152,261), information systems manager ($111,870 and $156,770) and building official ($107,034 and $149,902).
The lowest-paid was a library clerk at $32,859 ($50,383 with benefits).
--Total compensation for City Council members last year ranged from $771 for Tom Lindsey, in office less than a month, to $22,564 for Mark Schwing. The others: John Anderson, $20,913; Nancy Rikel, $19,376; and Jim Winder, $18,419.
The $6,000 annual salary is supplemented by medical insurance or an “in lieu” payment if medical is declined, redevelopment agency pay, phone allowance, dental and vision, a PERS pension for which the city pays employer and employee contributions and smaller amounts for Medicare, worker’s compensation, employee assistance and health overhead.
--This city’s rep at the county Municipal Water District, Brett Barbre, a past Yorba Linda Water District director, also serves on the Metropolitan Water District board. He tried to reduce a generous benefit package that included 401(k)s, 457(b)s and pensions but didn’t get much support from other directors and lost on a 27-6 vote.
--The Orange council will consider eliminating all salaries and benefits paid to members. Yorba Linda’s council, which has touted past conservative votes, such as supporting an Arizona immigration law and returning a federal earmark, should discuss similar action.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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