First Presentation to Board of Supervisors, 6 February 2007

The following letter was sent to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors in advance of their 6 February 2007 meeting. It was then read at the meeting during the public comment period and submitted to the Sierra Booster. Through an oversite, this first letter was not submitted to the Mountain Messenger, though subsequent letters were. The purpose of this forum is to inform citizen's of Sierra County of the facts. Take the time to read through subsequent postings and comments and you will find much to surprise and astonish you about the workings (and non-workings) of Sierra County politics.

Board of Supervisors
Drawer E
Sierra County, CA 95936
cc: Sierra Booster

To Whom It May Concern,

It is our understanding that the department heads of Sierra County (population 3,300) requested and received approximately an 11% salary/benefits increase in 2006.

It is also our understanding that said department heads are currently negotiating for a 2007 salary increase. This increase is based upon a wage survey averaging the salaries paid in the surrounding counties of Nevada (population 98,955), Lassen (population 33,828), Plumas (population 21, 321), Yuba (population 66, 734), Trinity (population 13, 149) and Alpine (population 1,262). Based on these averages the dept. heads are requesting between a 9% and 10% increase in total salary and benefits for this year.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be much logic behind this salary research. Comparing salaries with counties where the population is 4x (Trinity), 20x (Yuba), and 30x (Nevada) that of Sierra County is unreasonable. The only purpose that serves is to raise the median salaries to justify the increases being requested. If one looks at the obvious comparison, our neighbor Plumas County, one finds that in all but one case, their salaries are much lower than our dept. heads’ current salaries, not to mention the new salaries that are being requested. Plumas has 7x the population of our county yet their dept. heads, on a head to head comparison with ours, are compensated significantly less, with the exception of the Dept. of Transportation and Sanitation.

Further, at least 4 Sierra County department heads are newly elected in their positions. Three of them advanced from more junior positions in their departments to become department heads. So on top of the 11% that was negotiated last year, they also received an increase in salary for their promotions.

Here are a few more sobering facts, if the solvency of the county is not convincing enough:

• The latest cost of living increase for Social Security payments is 3.3%. If this request is approved, county officials will have received 7x that amount in the past two years (not counting the raises for the newly elected dept. heads).
• A CIA Operations Officer serving on the front lines of the human intelligence collection business by clandestinely recruiting and handling sources of foreign intelligence and serving the bulk of their time in overseas assignments make $50,839 to $70,558. (Every single one of the dept. heads exceeds this salary).
• Starting salary for an FBI agent is approximately $48,000 per year. A senior grade Special Agent with 12 years in the FBI makes approximately $87,000 per year. (Every single one of the dept. heads virtually equals or exceeds this salary.)
• The current salary for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $165,200 per year. (Several of the county officials rival that with their salary/benefits package).
• And this county has only 3,300 people to pay the bill
  

If these figures are overwhelming, consider the fact that the salary and benefits the county pays these people each year currently, totals over $1,200,000. For at least the past two years, we have experienced fiscal crises in the county. If the previous arguments are not sufficient to call into question the wisdom of going ahead with this fiscally irresponsible request, we have provided an addendum to this letter with salary comparisons from SalaryExpert.com. In every case, the data indicates that not only are the current requests for salary increase out of line with published government averages for these positions, it demonstrates that our county officials are already making more than most of their counterparts elsewhere in the state. And Sierra County is the “2^nd least populated county in California”.

Regards,

Dan Greenway and Gail M. Ellingwood, Sierra County Residents
Leroy and Marie Silver, Sierra County Residents
Jack and Betty Thatcher, Sierra County Residents
Bert and Marilyn Whittaker, Sierra County Residents

Note: Population figures obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Addendum: (Source for East Central California regional salaries: SalaryExpert.com)

Sierra County’s Assessor current salary: $86,730; total compensation with benefits: 144,922.
An Assessor working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 49,953. Half of those in this position would earn between 37,440 and 60,208 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data. When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 58,185.

Sierra County’s Auditor current salary: $86,730; total compensation with benefits: 119,267.

An Auditor working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 57,861. Half of those in this position would earn between 44,351 and 75,179 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 68,506. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

Sierra County’s Sheriff Coroner current salary: $104,244; total compensation with benefits: 168,753.
A Deputy Sheriff Coroner working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 59,710. Half of those in this position would earn between 44,042 and 79,594 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 70,662. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

Sierra County’s District Attorney current salary: $104,244; total compensation with benefits: 136,493.
A District Attorney working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 77,735. Half of those in this position would earn between 58,643 and 113,765 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 100,781. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

Sierra County’s Transportation/Planning Director current salary: $114,669; total compensation with benefits: 182,837.
A Transportation Director working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 61,128. Half of those in this position would earn between 42,129 and 78,397 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 78,199. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

The Planning Director working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 80,068. Half of those in this position would earn between 56,656 and 153,802 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 101,238. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

Sierra County’s County Clerk current salary: $86,730; total compensation with benefits: 119,267.
The County Clerk working in East Central California now earns an average annual salary of 67,857. Half of those in this position would earn between 54,292 and 88,010 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
When benefits and bonuses are added to this salary, the average total compensation for this position would be 79,452. See the graph and table below to learn how the cost of living in this location affects the actual value of this salary.

(Note: These are conservative government estimates.)