Costs swell for deputy officials, raising ire of taxpayer advocates
By Troy Anderson, Staff Writer
03/09/2008
Nearly a year after Los Angeles County supervisors restructured the county's top executive office, vowing to boost accountability and efficiency, taxpayer advocates are decrying a swollen budget and hefty salary hikes for a host of new deputy CEOs and staff.
The office budget surged nearly 50 percent from $27.7 million in 2006-07 to $41.2 million this year, and five new deputy CEOs draw annual salaries of more than $200,000 each. Meanwhile, each deputy's executive secretary makes $73,000 a year or more.
Harper said the actual costs of the restructuring plan for CEO Bill Fujioka's office totaled $1.7 million - to pay for the salaries and benefits of the new CEO, chief deputy CEO, five deputy CEOs and five executive secretaries.
Fujioka said there has been an initial investment in the deputy CEOs and their staffs, but he has efficiency teams looking at ways to ensure the plan has a "zero net county cost impact."
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said the plan is a work in progress.
"I hope there will be a benefit for the amount of money we're spending on this," Yaroslavsky said. "To do this and not have any benefit and spend that kind of money would be disappointing. [Yes, Zev...yes, it would be disappointing. I'm sure some folks can think of some other words to describe it, too.]
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Fujioka is paid $310,000 a year, up 28 percent from his predecessor's salary of $242,116. He is one of a string of top county officials recently granted salaries of about $300,000 annually, including the district attorney, health director and public health director.
Taxpayer advocates have expressed concerns that the higher salaries would put pressure on the supervisors to grant similar increases to lower-level employees.
Harper's salary under the restructuring was increased 42 percent - from $179,721 to $255,064. Among the deputy CEOs, Sheila Eaton saw her salary rise 43 percent from $146,553 to $209,214.
Meanwhile, Doyle Campbell makes $247,635, up 12 percent from the $220,167 annual salary he collected as assistant sheriff.
But because he's "on loan" from the Sheriff's Department, Campbell still collects his Peace Officer Standards and Training and longevity bonuses and will be eligible for the more lucrative public safety retirement, officials said.
And critics have cited Campbell's role as the new deputy CEO overseeing public safety, questioning how fair a top official "on loan" from the Sheriff's Department will be in drafting the sheriff's budget.
Harper said she doesn't see a problem.
Click here for much, much, much, much more...it's an f-ing nightmare!
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