The city of Palo Alto, California -- home to Stanford University and a many of Silicon Valley's most prominent tech companies -- isn't exactly lacking in resources. But even by the exalted standards of this affluent community, they're overpaying for public safety.
According to a report in the San Jose Mercury News, 77 of the city's 100 highest paid employees are police officers or firemen, all of whom make over $150,000 a year and many of whom are already retired. The highest paid individual was a retiring police lieutenant who took home over $400,000 in 2011 -- more than half of which was monetized sick leave and vacation time.
According to a report in the San Jose Mercury News, 77 of the city's 100 highest paid employees are police officers or firemen, all of whom make over $150,000 a year and many of whom are already retired. The highest paid individual was a retiring police lieutenant who took home over $400,000 in 2011 -- more than half of which was monetized sick leave and vacation time.
Here's the most interesting part; the huge payouts to public safety workers owe in part to a flood of new retirees since the city cracked down on exorbitant pay and benefits:
Readers take note. In California, a "tough new contract" means actually contributing to your own pension and paying a fraction of your health insurance costs. Commence your weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see fit.
According to the salary data, several of the top-paid firefighters retired around the time the city inked a tough new contract with the union last fall. The agreement will require employees to begin paying their full 9 percent CalPERS pension contribution at the start of the next fiscal year and cover 10 percent of their medical insurance premiums going forward.
Readers take note. In California, a "tough new contract" means actually contributing to your own pension and paying a fraction of your health insurance costs. Commence your weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see fit.
