Monday, October 15, 2012

San Mateo County Sequoia Health District CEO gets 14% pay raise


Meantime, Sequoia Health District (SHD) will be a beneficiary of San Mateo County Measure A "preserve and save our county services" funding, should this Measure A pass. The Measure requires taxpayers in San Mateo County to pay a one-half cent sales tax, over a 10 year duration.  That a lot of money over a long time period. 

Is the SHD agency CEO 14% salary increase the best use of money to"preserve and save our county services".  And what kind of signal is the SHD board sending to taxpayers by raising the salary of its CEO just prior to the election.

SHD board attacks Measure A.  Oh wait, that's our funding
Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 10/12/12.  "Sequoia Healthcare District gives CEO a 14 percent pay raise."

"The Sequoia Healthcare District board has voted to give a 14 percent pay raise to the organization's chief executive officer, who oversees a handful of people.

As a result of the board's 4-1 vote Wednesday, CEO Lee Michelson's pay will be bumped up from $159,000 to $182,000 a year.  Board President Kim Griffin said the salary increase is based on merit as well as the board's desire to ensure Michelson's pay is competitive with that of other health care district CEOs in the state. "He was underpaid compared to his peers," Griffin said. "This is an individual who has worked very hard."

Board Member Jack Hickey, who voted against the raise, said that although Lee is highly qualified, the work he does for the health care district does not merit such a big salary.  "With this district, the money comes in automatically; they just need to spend it. That's not a big job," Hickey said. "He has two part-time employees and two full-time employees. I don't see where that would require anything near that salary."  Read article.
 
Reference -  Sequoia Health District, San Mateo County. 

Related - San Mateo County Measure A, a one-half cent sales transaction and use tax.  "Section 5.150.030. purpose.  A.  To generate revenue that will be placed in the general fund to support general County services and functions."  Your tax money at work.  Fix Pacifica reprint of local Measures.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Apart from the standard "what does this have to do with Pacifica?" that accompanies most Meeh articles, what is the point of this?

It says the increase is based upon merit and that he's underpaid relative to his peers. Do you have any evidence to the contrary?

Kathy Meeh said...

Anonymous 9:56 PM, assuming you live in Pacifica, if the tax passes you will be paying for it, just like the rest of us. If you vote in Pacifica, the San Mateo county measures which will affect you are here.

The article. The county comes to taxpayers asking to "preserve and save" county services. The health district is an important beneficiary. The tax the county is asking for is big, one-half cent, for 10 years. But even before the tax has a chance to pass or fail, the health board has enough money to raise the salary of its CEO through 14% "merit pay". Maximum optional government "merit pay" when the county is asking to save services? The timing is not too good for that one.

At the same time, FMV the County has not done a great job describing the urgency of this additional taxation. So, upon the initial view of this tax, I tend to agree with "Board Member Jack Hickey, who voted against the raise. He said that although Lee is highly qualified, the work Lee does for the health care district does not merit such a big salary."

Good thing you post under Anonymous, otherwise you might embarrass yourself again. The invitation remains open for you to post articles "all about Pacifica" under your real name, but I suspect you're just an empty Anonymous full of insults. So, until you can step-up, you've got the articles I post.

Anonymous said...

Meeh, you sound like angry TB complaining about other peoples pay check.

Pot kettle black.

Kathy you are such a bleeding heart liberal its sick.

The saying is correct. Liberalism is a mental disorder

Kathy Meeh said...

Which is it, Anonymous 5:30 PM? You're mixing-up the Tea Party with liberals. Being fiscally responsible is a separate issue.