Monday, August 13, 2012

A Hermosa Beach "meter maid" cost story


Better to outsource than bankrupt the city. 

The Orange County Register/Opinion column/Brian Calle, 8/10/12.  "Hermosa Beach meter maids make nearly $100K?"

"When contemplating the many reasons cities in California and elsewhere are venturing closer to bankruptcy, look no further than the relatively lucrative and often-unjustifiable salaries bestowed on municipal employees – and the lofty pension benefits attached to the high pay.

Article Tab: Newport Beach outsourced parking meter collection and enforcement to a private firm last year.
Picture from the article
.... There are 10 parking enforcement employees for the 1.3-square-mile beach city southwest of downtown Los Angeles, and they pull down some disproportionate compensation, considering their job functions. In fact, the two highest-earning employees for fiscal year 2011-12 are estimated to have made more than $92,000 and $93,000, respectively, according to city documents provided by Patrick “Kit” Bobko, one of five council members and who also serves as mayor pro tem. Those two have supervisory roles. The other eight parking-enforcement employees make from $67,367 to $84,267 in total compensation.

....  Bobko also wrote in a memo that the retirement costs for these 10 employees “from [fiscal year 2011-12] through their retirement age at 62 was nearly $1.6 million, and the medical costs for these employees from this fiscal year to their retirement at age 62 would be $1,353,827.” Excluding salaries, the [retirement] contributions and medical costs for the 10 employees performing parking enforcement will cost, on average, nearly $300,000 apiece.

.... Since Newport made the move, the city “has seen a 24.4 percent increase in parking-meter revenues over last year and salary savings of approximately $500,000 from outsourcing parking meter operations,” according to Tara Finnigan, a spokeswoman for the city."  Read Article.   

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Cost of Living in Los Angeles and the Bay Area is very high. These wages don't seem to be outragous compared to other gov sectors.
EPA, we need to look at all the depts and wages.

Anonymous said...

Tell that to the Greeks Anon 1035

Hutch said...

Wow, 1.5 square miles, 19,000 pop and they have 10 meter maids?

All these government workers are going to be shocked when we put them on Social Security.

Anonymous said...

Why Pacifica, California and the US are just as bankrupt as Greece!

The only difference is someone wants to actually help Greece!

Anonymous said...

Or the Californians!