03-08-09, Mail from Mike Mohill to Barry Allen Regarding City Employee Salaries

 

While campaigning for Yousefian and Philpott this morning, I ran into Elaine Wilkerson.  She introduced herself as a supporter of Laura Freeman.[sic]  She told me that she was glad that the city, several years ago, raised the salaries of the city employees because we were losing many talented people.  I told her that I did not know that fact.  But, I did tell her, with 10% unemployment in the county today, I am sure we could replace most employees without a problem.  She said we would get incompetent personnel in return.  This evening as I was reflecting on Ms Wilkerson's comment, I thought about the two staff reports that I had previously reported to the city council last year.  If you recall, Barry, the city's Financial Report stated that for fiscal year 2008-2009 we would be $8.5M in the red.  I told council and city manager Starbird and Asst CM Bob McFall that the report was for only Jul, Aug, and Sept and that for the whole year it would be $88M per the projected Financial Report.  Mr. McFall told me that the staff report could have been "perceived as being deceptive".  We just finished our 2nd quarter of the fiscal year and the public has not been told what the 2nd quarter losses are?  Last year I also reported to the City Council and staff that their report stated a first year operating expense for the proposed Aquatic Center would be about $375M.  City Manager and his staff acted bewildered and so did the councilmen.  If you recall, Councilman Yousefian immediately said that it was a typo error and should be $375K.  Barry, both reports were signed off by the CM and the rest of the senior staff who are making salaries in excess of $100K a year.  Barry, if you recall the Chess Park for $500.000 was completed in 2006, but it is being entered into the city books this fiscal year.  How can Ms Wilkerson say that by paying more money for salaries we got better personnel these past several years.  With glaring errors worth millions of dollars why not fire our present staff and bring forward incompetent personnel at half the salary... and let us not forget their pensions.

 

Mike Mohill