Pensions Without Shame

It’s been evident for a while that some of the people who run Los Angeles County government seem beyond any sense of shame. There was the matter of $3 million in bonuses for top executives in 1990, and last year Hall of Administration offices were remodeled to the tune of $3.4 million. Now, while the homeless huddle in the shadow of downtown skyscrapers, Times reporters have discovered that top Los Angeles County officials are, once again, grabbing with gusto for the public purse.

Seems the county over the last several years has managed to boost the retirement pay of senior employees by at least 19%--with virtually no public discussion and no regard for the cost. While most of the county’s 85,000 employees will benefit in some way, the Board of Supervisors and top officials will derive the biggest gains. Experts suggest that the total increase could cost taxpayers $50 million a year.

How did this happen? Well, it seems the most powerful unelected government official in Los Angeles, Chief Administrative Officer Richard B. Dixon, recommended some key changes to the Board of Supervisors, which, with the exception of Supervisor Gloria Molina, it embraced wholeheartedly. The changes allow some fringe benefits, such as a county-provided car and medical insurance, to be counted with salaries when retirement pay is calculated. That means, for example, that Dixon would receive an annual pension of more than $127,000 and retiring Supervisor Kenneth Hahn will get about the same.

What to do? While supervisors are claiming muddled memories about how it all came about and a grand jury probe is possible, it may not be legal to rescind pension benefits already granted. Gotcha!

Said one astounded Santa Barbara official when told of the 19% hike here, “I’m in the wrong county.” When it comes to having open and fair county government, so are we all.