Posted on 07/22/2010 10:28:03 PM PDT by TruthHound
Since passage of the measure, salaries for council members — part-time employees — have jumped more than 50%, from $61,992 a year to at least $96,996. The Los Angeles County district attorney has opened an inquiry into whether the salaries are lawful.
A state law enacted in 2005 limits the pay of council members in "general law" cities, a category that includes most cities in Southern California. That law was passed in reaction to the high salaries that leaders in South Gate had bestowed on themselves earlier in the decade.
But the year that law passed, the Bell City Council authorized a special election with only one item on the ballot — a measure calling for Bell to convert to a "charter" city. The move was billed as one that would give the city more local control. The ballot language included no mention of the effect the change would have on council members' salaries.
All five council members signed the ballot statement in favor of Measure A. It also was backed by City Manager Robert Rizzo, according to a council member in office at the time. Rizzo "sold the idea to me," former Councilman Victor Bello said. Council members subsequently signed off on contracts that have boosted Rizzo's pay to $787,637 annually, making him probably the highest paid city manager in the country. No one filed an argument against the measure, according to documents obtained by The Times.
Rizzo has not returned calls to his cellphone or messages.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
For a city manager.
A city with a population under a half million.
$787,637 a year.
Rizzo. Article makes no mention, but I'd bet my molars he's a Democrat.
Any takers?
Dude, look at what his pension is. It is beyond belief. So, if they fire him, he collects his pension. A pay raise. This is the new mafia. Small town politicians all over America collecting the vig.
A city serves at the approval of the state.
And your point is?
They can’t do anything the rats don’t let them do.
I read recently that California has over ten thousand state, county, and city employees collecting a pension of $100k or more.
They won’t even report on how many retired...started their pension....then returned to a civil job while still collecting their pension.
Through the bums out and elect homeless people to their posts. Rich homeless people give America a good image, crooked politicians don’t.
So essentially, this is the fault of the majority of people who voted in support of this ballot measure.
I'd be suprised if the population tops 40,000.
Plus, they contract out major services (e.g. fire, health) to other cities.
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