City Officials Overpaid

In a recent article, “Money Problems Still Plague Port Hueneme,” it was reported that “city officials are adamant that they will have to trim city services if they are unable to build the beachfront RV park or find other new sources of revenue.”

One possible source of revenue could come from an immediate 25% salary cut to city administrative staff. The city manager of Port Hueneme, John R. Veltheon, is paid more than $100,000 per year.

The city is in a fiscal crisis and cannot afford to pay bureaucrats salaries that are four to five times as much as most citizens are paid. Mr. Veltheon, manager of a city of 20,000 inhabitants, receives as much as L.A.’s Mayor Riordan, who manages a city of 3.5 million, and as much as the governor of our state of 32 million people.

Since the city has decided it needs to undertake an entrepreneurial venture like the RV park, it would make good sense to consider opening its management positions to unemployed MBAs or other business people. These business-oriented persons might be able to do a much better job of it and will probably work for a much more reasonable salary.

GARY MASON

Port Hueneme