Conejo Post

I like to read newspapers, even those outside the Conejo Valley.  I was looking over the San Jose Mercury News this morning, which is a fine paper by the way, and read an article about the salaries of the city managers and police chiefs for fifteen cities in the Silicon Valley.  The highest paid city manager was Santa Clara’s, making $303,451, and the highest paid police cheif was Mountain View’s, making $287,161.

Then, I was reading the Ventura County Star Sunday editorial today, and it made a lot of sense.  The editorial said that salary is only part of compensation, what about other forms of compensation?  Not to report those, really can under report someone’s total earnings.  Here are some questions about total compensation.  How about health and life insurance, and pensions?  How much does a city or agency pay for an employee?  100%?  98%?  90%?  Are the pensions defined contribution, or defined benefit, and at what age are employees eligible to retire?  How about for electeds?  Do they receive any kind of insurance or pensions?

How about bankable vacation time and/or sick time for employees?  Is there any deferred compensation?  What overtime, if any is available?  Does a city or agency offer car allowances?  Housing allowances?  To read the VC Star editorial, and some other questions regarding city and public public compensation, go to:  http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/07/a-slow-start-on-city-pay/ 

Posted by Janna Orkney