Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Regional government employees "average compensation"

San Francisco Employee Compensation
Graph from  The Bay Citizen, 9/4/2010


The above Bay Citizen article describes how San Francisco government workers live elsewhere, and therefore spend their money in other cities, such as Pacifica (thank you).   

Pacifica city employee compensation, 2010, again.  

The following articles describe NO advantage for public-sector workers. Information may depend on who is doing the research:
Economic Policy Institute (EPI) (10, 2010). "California public-sector workers are neither overpaid nor overcompensated." 
National Institute on Retirement Security.  State and local government employees earn less than comparable private sector employees.

Posted by Kathy Meeh 

21 comments:

Lionel Emde said...

"Information may depend on who is doing the research."

Or more importantly, who is paying for the research, and the results expected.

Anonymous said...

Ho Hum..I miss the days when it used to mean that; to be a public worker ,,,, it was a Noble Job. Don't ask for much cause you are doing it for your country.

Hutch said...

Most cities are trying to cut wages and benefits now. They are all too high.

So even if San Mateo had the lowest average wages it doesn't change the fact that the amount is unsustainable.

Also Pacifica is one of the lowest revenue producers in the county.

So yeah.

Anonymous said...

San Josie is doing it.

Hutch said...

Yeah Anon 801, cops and firemen did it because the loved the job. God knows the pay even 20 years ago was closer to teachers pay. Now local cops are making $150K+? If you think this is a fair amount consider FBI Agents start at 40-50K.

And if you think that "you get what you pay for" then please look at Bell California.

Anonymous said...

Our men and women in the military get paid shit. God Bless Them. When I hear teachers complaining, makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

our resident genius will say city workers and police and fire are committing grand larceny!

Anonymous said...

why? you already said it so well.

Anonymous said...

The base salaries are within the normal range for this county but the city and the unions seem to have a longstanding, unwritten agreement to pad those salaries with OT and cashed-out benefits. Take a look at the maximum base and then look at the actual pay. Examples in every city dept but particularly glaring in fire and PD. Outrageous rip off. Want a higher PD or fire salary, then go to a more challenging city like LA or Chicago. Oops, you're actually making more here for responding to illegal dumping. Guess you'll hang onto this job afterall.

Sigmund Fried said...

Laurie Goldberg has many challenges she should address before coming out in public to criticize anything. I believe she was the infamous button-pusher at the vallemar pedestrian crossing during the quarry vote. You know, the one that kept pushing the button causing traffic to back up the highway thus proving we have a traffic problem, which of course, now we don't!
This makes me crazy!

Kathy Meeh said...

Its good to trim costs, and make the total benefit system (public and private) more fair for all of us. But, rather than dragging us all down to the lowest common salary and benefit denominator, IMO it would be better to pull us all up, so that we all enjoy "the American dream".

Hutch, some clarification, the base salary for line police officers (2010) is $53,304, (higher ranked officers make more). But, the higher cost (almost double) appears in the benefits and overtime pay. See 2010 compensation.

Then, from the Grand Jury Report, 2009, Pacifica pays to CalPERS retirement for police 37.52%, firefighters 31.37%, regular employees 22.23%, (table 6, page 20). And OPEB retirement: police 20%, firefighters 15.5%, regular employees 5.9%. 110 eligible employees, 10 retired, (table 5, page 22). City (government) retirement provides a much better pension than social security, (tab1e 1, page 7). (IMO, social security should be improved).

In 2009, it looks like Pacifica was running a lean employment city, more so now, (table 8, page 8).

Anonymous said...

Sigmund, don't know if Ms. Goldberg was the famous Vallemar Button Pusher but clearly she's pushed your button. Talk to someone about it, OK?

Anonymous said...

Do teachers, firefighters, peace officers pay into FICA? Social Security? The unions made sure the contract was padded with seniority gets OT first, and retirement pay based on last year of work. That is why you see the workers, close to retirement, work their asses off taking all the OT. Gee, did I get in the wrong line of work. But these are NOBLE JOBS. Right? Not doing it for the money.

Anonymous said...

What's your problem, anon? Just because you missed the boat on career choice doesn't mean there isn't nobility to you working your ass off and making sacrifices to make sure our public employees continue to rake it in.
Be proud, hold your head up. It's a fine thing you're doing and BTW get ready to do a lot more. Ah, the nobility of it all.

Anonymous said...

Well according to the Council if we cut these poor workers anymore we may lose them. Never mind that no other cities are hiring. Who the heck is going to work for only $80,000?

jaylen watkins said...

The Bay citizen is worth reading. It describes the life style of government employees residing out.

Anonymous said...

Sitting back and reading this fodder, I wonder if the individuals who complain about the wages for our City workers would do the same if they were soooo lucky to have a City job. I think not. It has always been the haves and have not. If you are not comfortable with your station in life, do something about it and stop complaining. City College is quite affordable over time. Take resposibility and improve your quality of life.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's very funny. Wrong, but very funny. Thanks for the laugh.
You should go back to work now, officer.

Anonymous said...

Anon (1053) the issue is "fairness". Citizens pay the bill for government payroll excesses and abuses.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1053 said "It has always been the haves and have not."

Spoken like a true member of the Bell City Council.

Anonymous said...

Not every public employee is a crook but every taxpayer in Pacifica is being ripped-off by this city. No shame, they just keep on taking.