Yes, its that time again when you get to compare how much cash you pulled in last year with what your city officials earned in 2012.
Ive given you this information year after year.
So here it is again.
Ill begin, as I often do, with city manager Penny Ballem. She was the citys top earner, pulling in $366,009 last year and spending $11,475 on expenses, according to the citys Statement of Financial Information released last week.
Its the most Ballem has earned since Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver colleagues hired her the same week they were sworn in to office in 2008.
In 2009, her first full year on the job, she pulled in $313,577. In 2010, her earnings jumped to $324,110 and increased to $334,002 in 2011.
Ballems earnings would include any payouts of vacation, bonuses, overtime and any other money owed to her under the contract she signed when she took the job.
Though some people might consider Ballems earnings too high, shes being paid whats in the range for a city manager in charge of a large workforce. Last time I checked with the City of Edmonton, its city manager Simon Farbrother earned $300,000 in 2010 and was eligible to pull in a salary of up to $329,875 in 2011, according to information on the City of Edmontons website. Toronto city manager Joe Pennachetti earned $330,386 last year, according to a recent report in the Toronto Star.
As has been the case in previous years, Police Chief Jim Chu has been the second top earner on the citys payroll, pulling in more than $300,000. Historically, the VPD has released the earnings of the chief, along with members of his executive, around the same time the city releases the Statement of Financial Information.
As I write this, Im still waiting for the VPD to get me the information. Police salaries are not listed in the statement because of a previous court challenge related to privacy. But the VPD has been good enough to release the earnings of the chief and his executive, when requested. Stay tuned.
My reading of the statement indicates that Francie Connell of the citys legal department was the only other employee to surpass the $300,000 mark in 2012. Connell earned $304,297.
Those employees who earned more than $200,00 included general manager of facilities Bill Aujla ($292,725), retired financial head Ken Bayne ($251,046), park board general manager Malcolm Bromley ($242,543), real estate head Michael Flanigan ($201,300), chief financial officer Patrice Impey ($260,919), deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston ($256,783), Karen Liang of the legal department ($216,502), Fire Chief John McKearney ($209,321), retired deputy city manager David McLellan ($258,261), Paul Mochrie of human resources ($203,157), Andrew Naklicki of human resources ($254,845) and Joe Stubbs of the legal department ($207,775).
Mayor Gregor Robertson pulled in $145,581 and spent more than $27,000 in local, travel and conference expenses. Robertson also claimed a transportation allowance of $7,175. The citys 10 councillors all earned $66,820.
The citys total payout for employees in 2012 was $407,369,353 and another $613,506 in expenses. The statement will go before city council at its Wednesday meeting at city hall.
mhowell@vancourier.com
twitter.com/Howellings
