MARC GARMAN - EDITOR

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 NEW COMMENT

SECTION 

BULLHORN.jpg

CLICK THE BULLHORN

Login Form






Lost Password?

Syndicate

PDF Print


 

VIB Labor Day Special

 

2011 Vallejo City Employee Wage Analysis


By Robert Schussel, Ph.D

9/3/12

Purpose

The purpose of this article to look at the wages, overtime and separation payouts of Vallejo City Employees for the most recent calendar year 2011.

 

Background

For the past several years, VIB using the California Public Records Act has obtained the wages of the City of Vallejo employees. For the most recent request the following information was obtained for each full time and part-time employee.

Also included are individuals who resigned and or retired during 2011 or who retired during the bankruptcy and received a special payout for monies withheld primarily for accrued vacation and sick leave.

The data includes:

 

 

  • Base Pay

  • Overtime

  • Other Wages

  • Separation Payout

  • Gross Wages


Caveats

1 )The number of employees included in an analysis may vary. For example 98 individuals were listed as full time sworn police officers. However when average overtime pay was being calculated only 87 individuals were included --the police captains(2) were excluded as they do not receive overtime as well as individuals who had collected primarily separation pay (as they had left early in the year) or those who were new hires and had only been working a few months.

 

2) Gross Wages include separation payouts.

 

3) Other Wages varies by bargaining unit. For example those in the CAMP bargaining unit receive a 5% management incentive/ 120 hour flex hours (given in lieu of or in addition to overtime), while those in VPOA (police) can receive educational incentives and longevity bonuses. VIB has put in another Public Records Act Request to better understand the “other wage” payouts IBEW members are receiving. For example, two IBEW members received more than $50,000 in other wages.


Gross Wages

The table below summarizes the gross wages paid out in calendar year 2011. Because gross wages includes onetime payouts caution should be used. It should be noted that $507,219 was paid out to retirees as part of the bankruptcy agreement. VIB is attempting to determine whether additional payouts to retirees will be occurring.


 

Gross Pay

Number of Employees

Part & Full Time

$47,255,573

500

Retirees

$507,219

97

City Council

$146,389

9

Total Gross Pay

$47,909,181

606


Twenty six employees earned gross wages of $175,000 or more.(see table below).


With the exception of department heads and the City Manager the individuals either worked a significant amount of overtime or had a large separation payout. Below is a list of these 26 individuals.


Title

Base Pays

Overtime

Empl Separation Payout

Gross Wages

JACKSON, DAVID C

POLICE CAPTAIN

151,400

$0

$304,671

$462,910

HENDERSHOT, DONALD E

POLICE SERGEANT

106,065

$9,210

$196,939

$317,083

BATCHELOR, PHILIP J**

CITY MANAGER

300,000

$0

$0

$300,000

ROBERTSON, DOUGLAS T**

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

78,770

$0

$140,415

$231,528

WEAVER, KENNETH J

POLICE LIEUTENANT

167,526

$41,979

$0

$223,657

URRUTIA, DAVID A

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

169,998

$31,776

$0

$215,601

NUGTEREN, ERIK J

WATER SUPERINTENDENT

87,942

$0

$116,223

$214,722

DUNN, PATRICK M

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

160,457

$37,445

$0

$210,081

LEE, LORI A

POLICE CAPTAIN

190,046

$0

$0

$208,056

ENG, STANLEY H

POLICE CORPORAL

121,943

$80,232

$0

$207,865

SALINAS, JOEL

POLICE LIEUTENANT

175,079

$28,879

$0

$205,238

NICHELINI, ROBERT W**

POLICE CHIEF

174,860

$0

$0

$203,134

ROBINSON, HERMAN E

POLICE SERGEANT

140,690

$50,609

$0

$200,186

FALKENTHAL, GREGORY R

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

160,101

$28,095

$0

$191,916

MORTENSON, ERIC

POLICE LIEUTENANT

114,661

$6,823

$67,404

$189,816

MEYER, PAIGE W**

FIRE CHIEF

171,132

$3,897

$0

$189,011

TATEM, CARL E

POLICE OFFICER

117,312

$25,420

$44,418

$188,430

WHITTOM, CRAIG A

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER

168,620

$0

$0

$188,062

O'CONNELL, JAMES A

POLICE LIEUTENANT

166,022

$20,220

$0

$187,522

BOERSMA, BARRY

POLICE CORPORAL

130,052

$55,123

$0

$186,455

FORD, CHARLES G

FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER

98,383

$72,940

$0

$180,612

KLEINSCHMIDT, DAVID A**

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

161,551

$0

$1,233

$179,982

GARCIA, JOHN A

POLICE CORPORAL

128,084

$49,136

$0

$178,500

HARPOLD-DUNN, KATHRYN

FIRE CAPTAIN 56.3

138,243

$26,030

$0

$177,750

GONZALEZ, GONZALO**

CHIEF INFO OFFICER

162,496

$0

$0

$176,441

GORDON, STEVEN L

POLICE SERGEANT

142,597

$31,161

$0

$175,112

 

** City Manager/Department Head


 

Average Wage (Base plus Other)

Average full time wages (Base Pay+Other) was calculated. This metric is the one that should be used to compare salaries to other cities and the private sector. As in prior analyses those in public safety continue to earn significantly more than other City of Vallejo employees. Even though IAFF has offered contract concessions their average wage is comparable to those in VPOA (sworn police)

 


 

 

 

Overtime

Despite just coming out of bankruptcy the City spent $3,791,212 for overtime. The majority of these monies (87%) was spent on fire and police employees. Fifty seven percent (57%) of the total overtime costs went to the Police Department and 29% for Fire Department employees.(see table below) .



Overtime

# receiving overtime

Police Sworn +Non Sworn

$2,177,895

120

Fire

$1,112,448

71

IBEW

$413,659

118

Vallejo Housing

$69,812

13

Finance

$12,139

12

Economic Development

$2,724

2

City Manager Office

$2,535

4

Total Overtime

$3,791,212

340



An additional analysis revealed that with the exception of $15,864 the Police Departments overtime was confined to Sworn Officers and Communication Operators. Of those receiving overtime 73% of the Sworn Police Officers and 79% of the Communications Operators earned more than $10,000 in overtime. Twelve (12) of the 14 Communications Operators earned at least $5,000 in Overtime.


The amount of overtime accrued by sworn police officers is equivalent to about 10 full time police officers and for the Fire Department 6 full time firefighters.


The table below provides a more detailed look at the Police Department overtime.

 


Overtime

# getting overtime

Earned more than $10,000 in overtime

Police Sworn

$1,900,704

90

66

Communication Operator

$261,327

14

11

Police Clerks

$13,713

8

0

Police Cadets

$2,151

4

0

Police Sworn+Non Sworn

$2,177,895

116

77

One Communications Operator who retired part way throught the year was included.

Below is a table containing employees with $30,000 or more of overtime. With the exception of one person all of the high overtime employees work in either the Police or Fire Departments.
 

EMPLOYEE NAME

Title

Overtime

ENG, STANLEY H

POLICE CORPORAL

$80,232

FORD, CHARLES G

FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER

$72,940

BARBUZANO, JOHN A

FIREFIGHTER/56.3

$56,455

BOERSMA, BARRY

POLICE CORPORAL

$55,123

MUSTARD, MATHEW

POLICE OFFICER

$50,674

ROBINSON, HERMAN E

POLICE SERGEANT

$50,609

GARCIA, JOHN A

POLICE CORPORAL

$49,136

BOTTOMLEY, LESLIE J

POLICE OFFICER

$46,667

HUFF, JEREMY M

POLICE OFFICER

$44,993

THOMAS, ELISIA A

COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR

$44,292

DARDEN, STEPHEN L

POLICE OFFICER

$43,368

MARTIN, DENNIS H

FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER

$42,546

FOWLER, STEPHEN J

POLICE OFFICER

$42,525

WEAVER, KENNETH J

POLICE LIEUTENANT

$41,979

PETERSEN, DANA M

COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR

$40,028

WYLIE, KYLE J

POLICE OFFICER

$37,847

DUNN, PATRICK M

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

$37,445

SIMPSON, GEORGE P

POLICE OFFICER

$36,902

RICCA, GUY L

SR. COMM. DEVELOP. ANALYST

$36,310

NICHELINI, MICHAEL W

POLICE OFFICER

$36,022

BAUER, JASON S

POLICE OFFICER

$35,554

HERNDON, ROBERT C

POLICE CORPORAL

$35,079

BADOUR, WILLIAM E

POLICE OFFICER

$34,222

POTTS, JASON G

POLICE OFFICER

$34,154

FARRINGTON, JUSTIN F

POLICE OFFICER

$32,559

HAMRICK, WILLIAM K

POLICE CORPORAL

$32,207

URRUTIA, DAVID A

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

$31,776

CAMPBELL, CLIFFORD W

FIREFIGHTER/56.3

$31,392

GORDON, STEVEN L

POLICE SERGEANT

$31,161

MESSINA, PEPPINO

POLICE OFFICER

$30,997

MC WHORTER, MATTHEW

FIREFIGHTER/56.3

$30,276

COBURN, JEFFREY S

POLICE OFFICER

$30,123


Other Wages

The City paid out $4,726,653 in Other Wages to 464 employees. The average amount was $10,187. With the exception of police officers about half of all full time employees received more than $10,000 in Other Wages. The reasons for getting other wages varies by bargaining unit. For example employees in CAMP receive a 5% management incentive, while employees in VPOA receive educational incentives, uniform allowance etc.

 

Other Wages

# getting Other Wages

Earned more than $10,000 in Other Wages

IBEW

$2,847,489

235

131

IAFF (fire)

$735,251

71

48

CAMP(management)

$517,720

46

27

VPOA (police)

$449,756

98

6

DIRECTORS

$133,465

8

7

Part Time

$42,972

6

2

Total Other Wages

$4,726,653

464

221

Of the 20 employees (see below) who made more than $25,000 in Other Wages, 18 worked in the Public Works Department. Of the 44 employees who earned $20,000 or more in Other Wages 84% worked in the Public Works Department. While Stand By Pay or deferred compensation might be factors in explaining the large amounts of Other Wages ( eg. one hour pay for 8 hours being on call) in the Public Works Department VIB is checking with the City about these individuals.

 

Employee Name

Title

Base Pay

Other Wages

KESSLER, ROBERT T

SR. INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN

77,731

$53,643

RAYGOZA, ARTHUR J

SR. PIPE MECHANIC

65,086

$52,778

HILSENDAGER, DANIEL L

BUILDING SUPERVISOR

69,992

$40,116

FLORES, RICHARD J

BUILDING MAINTENANCE WORKER II

58,647

$37,573

KASPER, ROGER C

SR. TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

89,954

$36,598

EVANS, ROBERT L

BRIDGE OPERATOR

49,542

$34,371

FOWLER, MARK L

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SUP.

73,251

$31,886

SCHREINER, MICHAEL W

ASSISTANT MAINTENANCE SUPT.

89,255

$30,992

JANSEN, ERIC F

SR. CIVIL ENGINEER

98,158

$30,321

MARTIN, DENNIS N

BRIDGE OPERATOR

48,143

$28,349

NICHELINI, ROBERT W

POLICE CHIEF

174,860

$28,274

GALTERE, GLENN G

SR. TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

94,383

$28,002

WONG, PHILLIP T

SR. ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

80,863

$27,597

SALAZAR, VICTOR H

PIPE MECHANIC II

58,647

$27,277

PACHECO, RICHARD

LANDSCAPE INSPECTOR

69,992

$27,085

BODY, THOMAS A

PW MAINTENANCE WORKER

53,141

$25,820

MALIT, FELIXBERTO Q

ASSOCIATE CIVIL ENGINEER

88,699

$25,627

WILSON, SHEDRICK L

SR. PIPE MECHANIC

64,741

$25,457

BAKER, RICHARD E

TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

60,567

$25,422

THOMAS, ALESIA

COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR

66,808

$25,379

              

              Separation Payouts

While the total amount of Separation Payouts ( primarily accrued vacation and sick leave) is lower than what was paid just as bankruptcy was about to occur the City paid out $1,322,402 in 2011.

Of the 82 individuals who received a separation payout 18 of them accounted for $1,245,532 which was 94% of the total amount payout. As in previous years a few individuals primarily in Police and Fire who accrue large amounts of vacation and sick leave account for most of the Separation Payouts. Below are the individuals with $10,000 or more in separation payouts.

 

 

Name

Title

Base Pay

Overtime

Payout

Other Wages

Gross Wage

JACKSON, DAVID C

POLICE CAPTAIN

$151,400

-

$304,671

$6,839

$462,910

HENDERSHOT, DONALD E

POLICE SERGEANT

$106,065

$9,210

$196,939

$4,869

$317,083

ROBERTSON, DOUGLAS T

BATTALION/DIV. CHIEF

$78,770

$0

$140,415

$12,343

$231,528

NUGTEREN, ERIK J

WATER SUPERINTENDENT

$87,942

$0

$116,223

$10,557

$214,722

MILLER, JOHN P

POLICE OFFICER

$0

$0

$69,983

$0

$69,983

MORTENSON, ERIC

POLICE LIEUTENANT

$114,661

$6,823

$67,404

$928

$189,816

STOUT, ROBERT V

PART-TIME

$100,796

$0

$47,905

$777

$149,478

FARRINGTON, JUSTIN

POLICE OFFICER

$91,196

$32,559

$46,197

$4,102

$174,054

TATEM, CARL E

POLICE OFFICER

$117,312

$25,420

$44,418

$1,280

$188,430

MCCARTHY, KEVIN K

POLICE OFFICER

$37,063

$309

$39,940

$1,179

$78,491

CAPOOT, JAMES L

POLICE OFFICER

$101,658

$26,884

$28,332

$2,774

$159,648

LEHMAN, MICHAEL L

ASSISTANT MAINTENANCE SUPT.

$47,007

$0

$28,005

$8,823

$83,835

MARTINEZ, JAKE R

RESERVOIR KEEPER II

$59,910

$2,267

$26,709

$20,740

$109,626

MORGAN, CATHERINE

COMMUNICATION OPERATOR I

$44,046

$5,570

$26,204

$16,277

$92,097

TWEEDY, WILLIAM J

FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER

$51,742

$12,902

$18,417

$5,040

$88,101

HARDING, JEFFREY K

TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

$20,881

$4,891

$17,445

$14,959

$58,176

EAKIN, RONALD D

WATER OPS. MAINTENANCE SUPT.

$18,917

$507

$13,327

$19,089

$51,840

SCOLA, DIANE J

PART-TIME

$38,488

$735

$12,998

$2,296

$54,517

 

Comments
 

Despite all of rhetoric it does not appear that meaningful reductions in the size of the City's payroll/wages have occurred.

  • While employees keep complaining about the size of their paycheck compared to the private sector, the current data suggests that their wages are at a minimum comparable to the private sector and their benefits are still superior.  

  • Overtime still appears to be a significant issue. One must also wonder why some individuals are allowed to work an additional 600 to 1,000 hours per year. Has anyone asked how these extra hours effect their ability to perform at their best? Finally employees that would be considered managers in the private sector should not be allowed to collect overtime. They also should not be in the same bargaining unit as those that they supervise.

  •  

  • Other Wages seem out of control especially in the Public Works Department. VIB will issue another report that concentrates on this area. It is also time the City get rid of longevity pay, educational incentives (that are de facto job requirements) and management incentives/flex hours. When incentives are given they should only be in effect for one year.

  •  

  • As in the past Separation Payouts continue to be a significant liability. When contracts are renewed the City needs to reconsider the amount of vacation time and sick leave that is given and can be accrued. Why are the most highly compensated/senior employees being given 5or more weeks vacation in addition to 2 weeks of holidays? The City needs to go to PTO (personal time off). Example: A new employee is given 21 days of PTO that can be used for vacation and sick leave. A more senior person might get 30 days of PTO. The maximum amount of PTO that can be held and later cashed out should be no more than 30 or 40 days worth.

 

Final thoughts

The contracts that have been negotiated over the past few years have not accomplished much in the way of reform or reducing costs. The use of comparable cities/jobs to justify wages is like a Ponzi scheme. Wages are contractually prohibited from going down in many cases, they can only go up.

While at one time City employees were not well paid but had good benefits now they have the best of both worlds--good to great pay and benefits compared to the private sector.

In the past those sitting on both sides of the negotiating table personally benefited when other employees received a raise. It's time to get negotiators who first allegiance is to the taxpayers.

If the City does not negotiate real concessions from the employees our quality of life will continue to languish and at some point in the near future the City will reenter bankruptcy.

** C

   

 
  1. pintarbersamamedan.org
  2. https://pintarbersamamanado.org
  3. https://pintarbersamasorong.org/dana
  4. HK LOTTO
  5. GenerasiTOGEL
  6. TOGEL
  7. TOGEL HONGKONG
  8. TOGEL
  9. https://elk-mountain.com/
  10. data sdy