11 City Managers Drawing Pay Of Over Quarter Million Dollars Per Year

Salaries for the top administrators in San Bernardino County’s 24 cities range from a low of $129,000 per year to $304,968, according to data recently released by the California Controller’s office.
The city of Ontario, which is the county’s richest city, with more than two-thirds of a billion dollars – $680,000,000 – running through all of its various funds and accounts annually, has the highest paid city manager.
The city of Needles, which is the county’s smallest municipality population-wise, pays its city manager the least.
Salaries are not the only forms of remuneration city managers receive. Nearly all of them are provided compensation in the form of benefits and add-ons that significantly increases the money taxpayers shell out for their services. Those benefits include contributions toward pensions, deferred compensation, vacation pay, leave pay, education stipends, computer, cell phone and travel allowances and health, dental, and vision coverage.
The state controller did not supply the full range of compensation for city employees in the most recent updating to its website, but did provide the salary range, wages subject to Medicare deductions, the applicable defined benefit pension formula, the employees’ share of pension contributions picked up by the cities, deferred compensation and the value of health, dental and vision benefits received by all city employees for the county’s 24 municipalities.
In the city of Adelanto, which has a population of 28,540, city manager Jim Hart’s salary range is between $210,000 and $215,000 per year. Upon reaching the age of 60, he will be eligible to draw a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum pay times the number of years he has been employed by the city. The city provides $14,700 toward his retirement fund each year and also picks up $4,002 of the cost of his medical, dental and vision plans.
In Apple Valley, which has a population of 70,040, town manager Frank Robinson is paid $222,280 in salary and is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked with the city. The city pays $17,304 per year toward his pension and $11,346 in deferred compensation annually. The city also pays $12,526 in medical coverage for him and his spouse.
In Barstow, a city with a 24,281 population, interim city manager Curt Mitchell is paid $236,990 per year in salary. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked with the city. The city provides $20,280 per year toward his pension and $13,968 in deferred compensation for him. The city picks up the $19,622 cost of medical, dental and visual coverage for him and his wife.
In Big Bear Lake, which has a population of 6,278, city manager Jeff Mathieu receives $221,000 per year in salary.  He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. He receives $10,000 in deferred compensation and the city covers the $13,210 cost of his and his wife’s health plan.
In Chino, where the population is 84,742, city manager Pat Glover, is paid $212,448 per year in salary.  He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.  The city pays $16,996 per year toward his retirement and $18,840 in deferred compensation to him. Chino taxpayers cover the $13,207 annual cost of his and his wife’s medical, dental and vision coverage.
In Chino Hills, which has a 78,971 population, city manager Mike Fleager receives an annual salary of  $202,800.  He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $15,201 annually toward his pension fund and the same amount, $15,201, toward his and his spouse’s medical, dental and vision care.
In Colton, where the population is 51,816, city manager Rod Foster receives an annual $220,000 salary. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $9,504 toward his pension fund and $11,880 for his family’s medical, dental and vision coverage.
In Fontana, the county’s second largest city population-wise at 190,356, city manager Ken Hunt has a $264,596 annual salary. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides him with $17,084 in health coverage.
In Grand Terrace, which boasts a population of 12,717, city manager Betsy Adams is paid a $209,001 annual salary. She is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.7 percent of her maximum salary times the number of years she has worked for the city. The city puts up $13,936 toward her retirement fund and provides $1,589 toward her medical, dental and vision insurance plan.
In Hesperia, a city with an 88,479 population, city manager Mike Podegracz is paid between $202,350 and $213,000 annually.  He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $9,683 per year toward his retirement fund, another $14,332 in deferred compensation and $9,420 annually for his and his wife’s medical insurance plan.
In Highland, with a population of 52,495, city manager Joe Hughes pulls in a $168,849 annual salary. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.  The city provides $12,647 yearly toward his retirement fund, another $5,500 in deferred compensation and $10,200 to cover the cost of his health, dental and vision plans.
In Loma Linda, a city with a 22,760 population, city administrator T. Jarb Thaipejr, who is also the city engineer and director of public works, is paid a $185,000 salary annually. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $12,139 toward his retirement plan and $10,020 for his family’s medical, dental and vision care.
In Montclair, which has a population of 37,535, city manager Edward Starr receives a $164,004 annual salary.
He is eligible at the age of 60 to retire and receive a pension equal to 3 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $12,792 toward his retirement fund, $2,271 annually in deferred compensation and $11,280 to cover the annual cost of his and his family’s health care.
In Needles, which has a population of 5,809, city manager David Brownlee receives a $129,000-to-$132,000 annual salary.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The city provides $9,000 per year toward his retirement fund and $13,500 for his family’s medical, dental and vision coverage.
In Ontario, which has a population of 174,536, city manager Chris Hughes is provided with a salary of $304,968 per year. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The city provides $3,733 per year toward his retirement fund, another $3,518 in deferred compensation and $1,874 toward his health, dental and vision insurance.
In Rancho Cucamonga, which has a population of 178,904, city manager John Gillison is provided with a salary that ranges between $206,856 and $293,280 per year.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city provides $14,592 per year toward his retirement fund, $14,490 for deferred compensation and $7,189 to cover his health plan.
In Redlands, a city of 71,926, city manager Nabar Martinez has an annual salary of $240,488.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city is setting aside $16,723 per year for his retirement fund, another $5,935 in deferred compensation and is underwriting his and his wife’s health care at a cost of $19,189 per year.
In Rialto, where 100,260 people reside, city administrator Mike Story is provided with a $264,120 annual salary.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city is setting aside $19,489 per year for his retirement fund. It provides $11,978 per year for his  health plan.
In San Bernardino, the county’s largest city with a population of 204,800, city manager Charles McNeely is paid $288,749 in salary per year.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.7 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The city contributes $20,872 annually to his retirement fund and provides him with $12,922 to pay for his family’s health, dental and vision insurance policy.
In Twentynine Palms, which has a population of 30,649, city manager Richard Warne is paid a salary of $154,775 per year.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city contributes $12,432 per year to his retirement fund and provides $16,306 annually to cover his health plan.
In Upland, a city of 76,106, city manager Steve Dunn receives an annual salary of $271,700. He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. The city contributes $19,019 to his retirement fund, another $16,283 toward deferred compensation and $15,371 per year for his family’s medical, dental and vision insurance plan.
In Victorville, which has 112,097 residents, city manager Doug Robertson takes home a salary of $249,996 per year.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The city sets aside $21,294 per year to infuse his retirement fund, provides $25,143 for deferred compensation and $7,512 toward his medical, dental and vision plan.
In Yucaipa, a city with a population of 51,476, city manager Ray Casey receives $195,598 per year as a base salary.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The city is setting aside $11,023 for his retirement fund, another $5,127 toward deferred compensation and putting up $8,400 per year to provide him and his wife with health care.
In Yucca Valley, which has 21,292 residents, town manager Mark Nuami receives a salary of $190,000 per year.
He is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2.5 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city.
The town is providing $7,802 per year toward his retirement and $6,019 to pay for his family’s health coverage.

The following clarification of this article was published in the Sentinel on December 30:

In an article published by the Sentinel last week pertaining to the salaries of city managers in San Bernardino County’s 24 incorporated cities and towns, the figures were provided by the California Controllers office. The Sentinel, relying on that information, reported that Needles, which is the county’s smallest city, has a population of 5,809, and that city manager David Brownlee receives a $129,000-to-$132,000 annual salary and is eligible at the age of 55 to retire and receive a pension equal to 2 percent of his maximum salary times the number of years he has worked for the city. Furthermore, the Sentinel reported, the city provides $9,000 per year toward Brownlee’s retirement fund and $13,500 for his family’s medical, dental and vision coverage.
Brownlee contacted the Sentinel this week to say that “Needles’ population, per the 2010 Census is 4,844. The population grew by 14 from 2000 to 2010 (0.002898551 percent).  The budgeted range for the Needles city manager position is indeed $129,000 to $132,000 per annum. I, however, make $50.47/hour based on furlough truncated annual hours of 1,976. All employees take furlough. My annual salary is $99,728.72. At an ex-furlough 2,080 hours it would be $104,977.60 per annum. Furloughs are the new norm and are essential to ensure solvency of the city.”
If you are aware of inaccuracies that have appeared in the Sentinel, you can bring them to our attention by emailing us at sbcsentinel@yahoo.com

 

 

 

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