Jennifer Muir over at the OC Register’s OC Watchdog blog brings us the hardship story (snark) of the OC Water District General Manager finally getting a raise. Well, at least it was a hardship for him. While his 145 employees had to skip a wage increase, he gets a 10% raise and a $15,000 bonus. I thought the District was strapped for cash?
O.C. water exec gets raise and $15,000 bonus
As public agencies across the state are cutting their budgets and laying off staff, Orange County Water District’s board has approved a 10 percent raise for its general manager.
That means Michael Markus will be collecting $215,000, up from the $195,000 he’s been earning since he took over the job two years ago. Plus, he gets a $15,000 one-time bonus.
Oh, and the pay raise will be applied retroactively to July 1, 2009.
Orange County Employee’s Association General Manager Nick Berardino had this to say on the matter:
“This is despicable,†Berardino said. “ At the same time as many Orange County citizens are wondering how they are going to pay their water bills, the board of directors of the water district are lavishing their General Manger with an obscene raise and bonus.â€
Since it is management getting an obscene raise and bonus we probably won’t be hearing any outrage from the Register’s opinion pages or the right-wing blogs.
Crickets. Just crickets is all we’ll hear.
Here is the link to the OC Watchdog story.