I couldn't agree more with Gary in his comments. We have the same issues with Hennepin County Administration: The County Administrator awards herself (via HR Dept) with a 44% raise increasing her salary ceiling to $40k over the GOVERNOR'S SALARY, over $160K! The reasoning: to keep the County competitive and attract qualified and talented individuals to the position in the future.
This same administration had employees begging for a 3% cost of living raise in the recent round of collective bargaining. These steps to keep our "talented" and "highly qualified" individuals at the top levels in our administration reeks of professional's free agency problem. Are these officials going to soon ask for a new office since the one they are in won't allow them to remain economically competitive? Bob Velez Shingle Creek Ward 4 > However, even with that consideration, I > must confess that I am immensely hard-pressed to justify a $30,000 > raise to $190,000 in my mind. Let's keep in mind of an expected, what > is the amount, $30 million shortfall? How do we say to parents that > their children will have to settle for less when a person who was > already making more than likely 95% of these parents is now getting a > $30,000 raise? > > Furthermore, when Minneapolis taxpayers voted YES FOR SCHOOLS, I really > don't think it was the intent of the taxpayers to pay for > administrative pay raises (the article also mentions another > $125,000/year for a COO, adding insult to injury) > *snip* > I would openly challenge Carol Johnson to return her pay raise to > either the district or some school related charity (PTA?) and, of > course, remain Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. Would > this return of $30,000 to an immense budget be largely symbolic vs. of > practical use? Yes, but it would demonstrate Carol Johnson's desire to > run a good school system not only in letter but in spirit also. > > Gary Bowman > Ward 1, Precinct 1 > Questioning whether we voted YES for schools or YES for pay raises _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
