Top 25 Local Government Salaries; Projected Lifetime Pensions Revealed
Todd Pittenger - Wed 02:47 PM 02/22/2012
(from left) Taxpayers United of America Director of Outreach Rae Ann McNeilly and Vice President Christina Tobin speak to the media on Wednesday.
An organization that believes government pensions are out of control, and unsustainable, revealed the top 25 salaries and projected pensions from Saline County, the City of Salina, and Salina teachers Wednesday.
Taxpayers United of America is currently traveling the country, making stops in every state. Kansas is their ninth stop so far.
In an effort to bring notice to their cause, the organization is stopping in communities across the country, revealing the salaries of local government employees, and projecting what their lifetime pensions will be.
For regular government employees the lifetime pensions are projected from retirement at age 62, to age 85. For police and fire lifetime pensions are projected from retirement at age 55, to age 85.
Vice President Christina Tobin says that the pensions are estimates, based on each employee working long enough to retire with a full pension. She says they had to estimate, because in Kansas government will release pension numbers, but not names.
Tobin says that government pensions are out of control all over the country, and are unsustainable.
She believes that all government workers need to get what is owed to them. However, the current pension system is broken, and needs to be changed to more of a 401K style program for new government employees.
Tobin thinks that the current pension system is so badly flawed, it is in danger of running out of money. She says that all government employees should contribute ten percent more to the pension system.
Another related issue Taxpayers United of America is tracking is “double dipping”. The organization’s director of outreach Rae Ann McNeilly says “double dipping” is when a government employee retires, and begins to draw their full pension. That employee then gets a job in another branch of government. That employee then gets paid for their new job, and at the same time continues to collect their full pension. She says while “double dipping” is not against the law, it is “not ethical or moral”.
Mcneilly says that there are currently at least 5,000 government employees in Kansas "double dipping".
While the group released a list of the top 25 from the three different groups in Salina and Saline County, they are also currently compiling a data base of every government employee in Salina and Saline County, their salary, and their estimated lifetime pension. They will make that list public as well, when it is finished.
Taxpayers United of America is a non-profit pro-taxpayer organization based in Chicago. The group is currently on a tour that will stop in all 50 states, and the Dictrict of Columbia, urging state governments to switch to 401K style pension plans.
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HankHill
Wednesday 22 February 2012 15:03 Report this comment
"Master" police officer. I want my taxes back.
troy
Wednesday 22 February 2012 15:09 Report this comment
WOW! I would take on any one of those jobs for 1/2 of what they are currently paying.
HankHill
Wednesday 22 February 2012 15:37 Report this comment
Something tells me that 90% of the people on this list go around asking people if they have handed in their TPS reports in. We need the Bob's to come in and stream line this operation.
ksfarmdude
Wednesday 22 February 2012 15:46 Report this comment
I can't wait to see this all come crashing down, someday when the state goes broke the state will not be able to afford this kind of payout to people that don't work any harder than the ordinary citizen this is a cash cow for goverment and school employees hope they are saving for a rainy day its coming
Kansascop
Wednesday 22 February 2012 16:00 Report this comment
So if an employee, against their will,(public employees are mandated to pay into KPERS) puts 6% of their annual income into a system shouldn't they get their payout upon retirement? Except for the City Manager and the City Police Chief I don't see anyone getting too much money on that list. In fact, most of them get paid too little for what they do. Troy.....go ahead and apply for police officer and see if you can hack it. ksfarmdude go check the mail.....your taxpayer supported farm subsidy is due any day now.
Noob
Wednesday 22 February 2012 16:10 Report this comment
Wow, wouldnt say the teachers outrage me nearly as much as city/county workers. 6 members of the fire dept make nearly 100k a year. They actually have a fun job, 95% of the time its just like being at home for them. This is why your taxes are high people. Most of these people are desk jockies who dont work 1/2 as hard as us making 30-40k a year.
engineering
Wednesday 22 February 2012 17:00 Report this comment
Kansascop, I see at least 8 Police and Fire deputy chiefs or whatever making way more then what they are worth. When I worked at the City I worked with them and they make as much as the Police and Fire Chief should. I'm sorry but your deputy chiefs should not make over $80k year. You police officers make plenty of money with all the overtime you work.
DamiStac
Wednesday 22 February 2012 17:26 Report this comment
The thing with KPERS is, Kansas is smart. Say you retire at 65 with KPERS set to pay you. They've been receiving your money plus interest for the last 45 years and they only pay til you die, and your dependents only get the remaining money of what you put in yourself. So, if you retired at 65 with 50k/year benefits, and you put in $250,000 yourself and you died at age 70. Your family would get 0. Unlike a traditional retirement plan where they get all of the interest+investment returns it gained over the years.
hopeandchange
Wednesday 22 February 2012 18:06 Report this comment
Some of these top wages don't seem that high when you consider how much like positions in the private sector can pay. This double dipping thing they are proposing as unethical is not that unethical. They are once again blaming the victim. Kansas cannot pay what it owes in pensions and they are turning the focus to the employees when the reality is they have been unethically not paying their debt. Each employee needs to contribute 10% more? Seriously? With no raise and/or promotion opportunities. How much money did all the broke states spend on this panel of experts?
waltkowalski
Wednesday 22 February 2012 18:43 Report this comment
I would like to see what the average KPERS retiree will take home. Since we see the top 25, how about the bottom 25?
Kansascop
Wednesday 22 February 2012 18:53 Report this comment
Overtime is not being paid at most agencies. And, overtime is more time away from family working nights and weekends while engineers sit at home. Police officers and firemen risk their lives......most of you don't. I've been shot at 4 times, sliced with a knife once, and suffered permanent damage to my lungs at a house fire. Yeah, you're right.......I made too much money. My last year as a patrolman I pulled down 62,000 with OT. I could make the same at a host of private sector jobs and not get shot at or risk severe injury. Isn't anyone concerned the city manager is pulling down $160000??? or what about Bill Snyder at KState??? When's the last time a coach or a city manager risked their life and the future of their family for their pay???
Kansascop
Wednesday 22 February 2012 18:53 Report this comment
I should clarify that overtime has been paid in the past but budget cuts are stopping that practice.
Kansascop
Wednesday 22 February 2012 19:00 Report this comment
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS NOT KPERS!! A Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved close to $370,000 in bonuses for certain employees of Solyndra LLC, a solar panel manufacturer that received a half-billion dollar loan from the federal government before declaring bankruptcy. Solyndra, based in Fremont, Calif., wanted to award bonuses of up to $500,000 to as many as 21 employees but scaled back its request after discussions with its official creditors committee. The judge approved the revised bonus request following a hearing Wednesday. Solyndra, which has failed to find a buyer to operate the company as a going concern, says it needs to retain key employees with the expertise needed for an orderly liquidation of its remaining assets. Attorneys for former Solyndra workers laid off just before bankruptcy filing objected to the proposed bonuses.
engineering
Wednesday 22 February 2012 19:41 Report this comment
Kansascop, relax I am not saying that all cops are over paid. I was talking about the amount of cops who sit on thier butts under the chief and make $80k a year going to meetings. When is the last time they risked thier life?? And you would not make that amount in the private sector. I got plenty of friends who work for the SPD, overtime has not been cut for Emergency Services. I was involved in meetings where Jason Gage approved their overtime but wouldn't approve the overtime for people working on Salina's horrible streets. Remember those guys, the one's that have to dodge the countless horrible drivers that roam the streets everyday. If you chose to be a police officer then the time away from your family is your choice, I work 60 hours a week in my engineering job but I don't wine about missing time from my family. You live with the choices you make.
engineering
Wednesday 22 February 2012 19:41 Report this comment
And your right, none of the Executive Staff working for the City of Salina could make anywhere close to what they make now with all the extra benefits. The only one that could make close to his salary in the private sector is Dan Stack and even he would have to move to KC to make $96k a year if he was that good of an Engineer
engineering
Wednesday 22 February 2012 19:50 Report this comment
Here is a little inside information, the only reason Mike Fraser, Martha Tasker make so much is because they are above Dan Stack in the totem pole. Dan's salary is somewhat explainable, but Martha Tasker is head of utilities so she has to make more then Dan. Mike is Dan's boss along with overseeing all of Public Works so he has to make more then Dan and so on.
engineering
Wednesday 22 February 2012 19:51 Report this comment
The most outragous salary on that sheet is Mike Schrage at $123k. Mike is a nice guy but his job is basically Jason Gage's assistant. He does all the work Jason does not want to do. But on the totem pole he has to make more then Mike. Just what are you paying Jason $160k to do all day, that is the question??
RUNUTS
Wednesday 22 February 2012 20:03 Report this comment
I wonder why the airport authority does not have their pay posted here? I bet you all would freak out on that!!
horsisaz
Wednesday 22 February 2012 20:08 Report this comment
Do not go to their website and look up Chicago teachers,wow!@ kansascop,do something safer,my son got shot at in Iraq,he makes less than third of what you make,BHO going to lay him of with over 11 years after he get back from Afghanistan.Now what do people do with this information?This is why properties taxes keep going up.
jmh-1944
Wednesday 22 February 2012 21:35 Report this comment
"Salina KS Government Teachers"??? By the category heading alone you can tell these two NON-Kansans are running around the country with an agenda. My guess is they tried to get a job with a pension and didn't make the cut, so now they have a right-wing axe to grind.
hillbilly
Thursday 23 February 2012 05:20 Report this comment
well some bring home after federal taxes (no state taxes because it had to be claimed as income while working for the city) less than $15000.00 per year even after contributing 4% for 19 to 20 years. I would classify them in the bottom 25.
hillbilly
Thursday 23 February 2012 05:30 Report this comment
kansascop..did you know that our former city manager carried a law enforcement badge while employed at the city? Have you claimed down in 30' deep manholes full of methane? Ya know, I played in the street, in traffic, just like you. The difference is that most of the time you had a christmas tree of lights and other officers to protect you. I had an orange vest and a yellow light and maybe another attentive person to watch my back. You think that engineering does not work weekends? Bet you saw me out there many weekends, nights and holidays.
Noob
Thursday 23 February 2012 08:04 Report this comment
What makes these people making 80k-160k per year any better than the rest of us working our tails off for the Salina average of 32k per year? That is my question. Then after that, They get 75% in pension and social security? This is what i have to look forward to, No social security and no retirement fund cause I struggle to keep my bills paid and my taxes keep going up to fund these crooks. They are not 3-5 times better than me,so why do they make 3-5 times more?
perception2012
Thursday 23 February 2012 09:11 Report this comment
My question is how do you justify a city manager salary of 160K for a city the size of salina?
getumgranny
Thursday 23 February 2012 09:30 Report this comment
I have had contact with various city/county officials many times for business reasons. I can honestly say, in my opinion, there is not one of our higher up, overpaid people that is worth what they make!! The ones on the employee level, underlings, work MUCH harder and do alot more work than their bosses!! Our City Manager is a joke, he has an assistant and the assistant has an assistant, and, we have a Mayor. So I would ask you, what the hell does he actually do, besides drain our bank account!!?? Wednesday 22 February 2012 20:42 | Report this comment
getumgranny
Thursday 23 February 2012 09:31 Report this comment
Just a thought to you city/county employees that actually do all the work and cannot seem to get a pay raise, maybe it's time to go on strike!! Tell these high dollar wage earners that don't really do much to back down on their salary and spread the wealth around a little. To the citizens, It's "house cleaning time"!!! I'm sure we can find people to do their jobs for much less money, considering they don't do much!!! Salina needs a tax revolution!! If I have to keep paying these enormous property taxes, I want to see my money spent more conservatively!!! Oh, and to Gage, Sir, if you are going to contradict what the article in the paper says, where is your numbers? And YOU figure them yourself, do not hire some big out of town company to do it with my money!!!! And, make sure you can back yours up with hard evidence, Most of us would not believe you if your tongue was notarized!!
Kansascop
Thursday 23 February 2012 10:37 Report this comment
Hillbilly......all city workers should make more. Society doesn't value our infrastructure employees near enough. Noob....retired police officers and firefighters under KP and F don't get social security. Nice try.
perception2012
Thursday 23 February 2012 10:53 Report this comment
I'm from Chicago and this sparked some interest in me. Chicago is a more expensive city with alot more people and issues than Salina, Ks. In my research I've found noticed that the salary of Salina's city manager is only 50k shy of the Rahm Emmanual the mayor of Chicago. Guess there is good enough justification for these types of funds for such a small town manager. I'm glad someone looked into this. Brings up a lot of questions.
pops67401
Thursday 23 February 2012 11:38 Report this comment
Jason Gage is making way too much money for the size of Salina. Are you kidding me? But is there anything we as citizens can really do about this obscenity?
bear339
Thursday 23 February 2012 12:53 Report this comment
I was wondering if they have really checked into KPERS....it is invested in stocks and funds and no taxes are put into KPERS..now the government salaries are paid with taxes...I do beleive they need to do further investigating. The employees are required to put the money in.
tbone02b
Thursday 23 February 2012 15:08 Report this comment
My guess is Ms.Tobin has never had a real job in her lifetime. Were it not for "Daddy" she would be another unemployed MBA.
ShadowCipher
Thursday 23 February 2012 15:38 Report this comment
I need to change careers.