Posted on 04/26/2011 8:09:47 AM PDT by SmithL
MEMBERS OF local school boards, city councils, park districts, transit agencies and water and sewer districts need to decide whether they sought office to serve their communities or to drink at the public trough.
These are supposed to be part-time positions, setting policy and overseeing the well-paid, professional managers of local government agencies. They are not supposed to be a primary means of support.
That's why a token compensation, say a couple hundred dollars a month, might be appropriate to offset the actual expenses of a part-time elected official. But the widespread payments for health insurance and pension benefits, uncovered by a team of Bay Area News Group reporters, are beyond the pale.
The numbers are astounding. In 2010, the average cost of medical, dental and vision coverage -- or, believe it or not, cash in lieu of coverage -- was $9,122 a year. That's more than the average salaries of $7,099.
In some cases, the numbers are just astounding. James Nejedly, a director on the board of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, collected $35,636 in insurance benefits in 2010. His father, the late Republican state Sen. John Nejedly of Walnut Creek, would be appalled.
In some cases, elected officials doubled up, taking benefits for their elected office and also from other agencies to which their fellow board members appointed them. Thus, Antioch Mayor James Davis collected $6,171 in health benefits from Antioch and another $21,444 a year in health benefits from the Delta Diablo Sanitation District. His total compensation, salary and benefits, totaled $56,975.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
Too bad. All of that money should be in our pockets, not theirs
But I volunteered not only to serve but to be a conservative eye/voice.
Probably a good thing in the case of otherwise unpaid volunteer fireman and EMTs;not so good for busybody committee members.
(for those in my age group who remember the old song)
Nice work if you can get it, and you can get it if you try!
For you youngsters under 60 or so...search it up and listen; good music.
This is a good point to state the importance of getting on every committee, board, panel, etc., that you can. The restless do-gooders start there...
I live in the CCCSD. I just received a”notice” from this District advising me that they are planing to raise annual sewer connection “fees” currently averaging $311 per household by $73 for 2011 and another $30 in 2012. That’s a 24% increase for the first year and another 10% next year. They say its because they didn’t raise the rate for the past two years! They say that this money is to be used for “capital projects” over the next 10 years totaling $345 million AND to fix UNDERFUNDED PENSION FUNDS AND RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS!
Evidently, like most government agencies, these guys haven’t received the memo that we’re broke. As for Nejedly, I knew his father personally. He would truly be upset to see his son bilking the District. His sister is our County Supervisor. I wonder what she thinks of this. Maybe I’ll ask her, although her husband is a firefighter who is taking home $250k per year so maybe they are birds of a feather.
I met John Nejedly at an Eagle Court of Honor and was really impressed with him. I understand his children still don’t play well together.
School board member shouldn’t be a full-time position. The only “pay” should be on-site meals, mileage for travel and in-kind payment of necessary insurance premiums.
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