Pay Hikes for 27 County Department Chiefs OKd

Pay raises of up to 10.5% were approved Tuesday for Los Angeles County government department heads, despite criticism from rank-and-file employee groups and Supervisor Kenneth Hahn that the increases are excessive.

While strongly criticizing the proposed pay raises last week and promising to “try and stop this,” Hahn did not attend the Board of Supervisors closed-door session Tuesday afternoon where the issue was decided. Hahn’s press secretary, Dan Wolf, said the supervisor, who was disabled by a stroke last year, had gone home to rest.

The four remaining supervisors supported what was characterized as a compromise package of pay raises for 27 department heads, effective retroactively to Sept. 1, 1987. The increases, the first under a performance-based pay plan affecting 400 county managers, range from 5.5% to 10.5%, depending on performance, duties and employment market conditions.

The board split 3 to 1 on a 10.5% increase for Chief Administrative Officer Richard Dixon that will boost his annual pay to $123,760.

Opposed Action

Supervisor Pete Schabarum opposed Dixon’s raise, saying he did not believe the performance of the county’s top executive had been “meritorious enough” to earn one of the largest increases.

After Dixon, the highest paid county managers will be Chief Medical Examiner Ronald Kornblum, with an 8.5% increase to $111,842, and Health Services Director Robert Gates and Public Works Director Thomas Tidemanson, both 8.5% increases to $107,571.

County employee union officials had attacked the pay raise proposal after a confidential list of Dixon’s recommendations was leaked last week. Union leaders noted that county negotiators were offering their members only a 6.5% increase over two years.

Hahn had also criticized some of the proposed raises, triggering a spat with Schabarum, who accused Hahn’s office of leaking the report to the news media. Hahn’s office denied the charge.

The other supervisors defended the raises Tuesday. Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he did not agree with all salary adjustments, but described the package of increases as “our best, good faith effort.”

Edelman, a county employee union supporter, told reporters he supports the larger increases for managers because of their responsibilities.

Confidential Report

Although Dixon, in a confidential report, recommended a 6.5% merit increase for Norman Murdoch, the county’s regional planning director, the board approved no raise “pending organization changes,” according to statement issued by the board. Members of the board’s conservative majority, particularly Schabarum, have been critical of Murdoch’s performance.

Seven department heads received increases of 10.5% based on exceptional performance, expanded duties or employment market conditions.

Two department heads, Mental Health Director Robert Quiroz and Animal Care and Control Director Brian Berger, received 5.5% increases, lower than the 6.5% recommended by Dixon, whose evaluation said that the two managers had met expectations.