County Officials’ Benefits Top $300,000 : Perks: The 1993 compensation packages rise despite actions to cut thousands of dollars. Pay is expected to drop this year.

Despite taking action to cut thousands of dollars in perks, Ventura County’s elected officials received more than $300,000 in financial benefits last year on top of salary increases, county records show.

Only two of the county’s 10 elected officials--Supervisors Vicky Howard and John K. Flynn--received less money than the year before. That was because they refused to accept one of the most controversial of the perks--seven weeks extra vacation pay.

In almost all cases, the compensation packages of the county’s elected officials in 1993 increased--by as much as $9,500--instead of declining.

“We were led to believe that these perks would be cut,” said Lindsay Nielson, a Ventura lawyer who served on a citizens’ panel charged with reviewing the perks issue. “I’m a little dumbfounded.

“The fact of the matter is there is no change, even with all their lip service.”

The county’s complex system of lucrative financial benefits was quietly adopted by the Board of Supervisors in the 1980s, partly to avoid the public criticism they might have received had they simply given themselves and other elected officials dramatic salary raises.

But a major controversy over the perks flared after The Times disclosed in September, 1992, that the officials were receiving tens of thousands of dollars annually in addition to their base salaries. Under intense pressure, the supervisors agreed to form a citizens’ panel to study the pay packages.

At the recommendation of the panel, the board voted on Dec. 15, 1992, to cut almost all the benefits while increasing base salaries--creating what they called a more forthright pay system.

But the county counsel’s office later ruled that the supervisors could not cut benefits that officials had already earned.

“They basically had an absolute right to it,” said county Counsel James McBride.

As a result, the 10 elected officials and the county’s chief administrative officer received a lump-sum payment last January for perks that they accrued in 1992.

They also received between $11,000 and $17,000 in salary increases--meant to offset the loss of perks in future years--pushing many of their pay packages to well over $120,000.

Although 1993 reflected what some called a “banner year” for most of the county leaders, officials cautioned that their pay will drop substantially this year. Officials eliminated most perks--including the vacation bonus and longevity pay--from the compensation plans this year.

In some cases, county officials estimate at least $20,000 could be lopped off some 1994 salaries.

“Last year was just a cleanup year,” said county Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon, whose office is responsible for monitoring how much officials earn. “From here on in they’re not going to get (the perks). When you compare 1994 with 1992, there will be substantial reductions.”

Nevertheless, taxpayer advocates say they are disappointed that the officials received additional funds last year despite efforts to slice perks.

Making matters worse, advocates say, the county calculates its employees’ retirement benefits based on their year of highest pay.

Since most of the elected officials earned more money in 1993 than ever before, those figures could be used as the basis for setting their pensions, possibly costing the county thousands of dollars more in retirement pay.

“Their salaries were spiked,” said Michael Saliba, the executive director of the Ventura County Taxpayers Assn. “To use that for basis for their retirement would be inappropriate.”

Saliba and Nielson, who serves on the tax association’s board of directors, said they want the county to appoint another citizens’ panel to study the matter further.

“Obviously more work needs to be done,” Nielson said. “There were tremendous windfalls last year. That was never the intention of the (perks) panel.

“I think these people should be paid, but let’s not play games.”

Supervisor Maggie Kildee, however, said the county has worked out the glitches.

“I know people believe I got a raise, but I didn’t,” Kildee said. “It’s just because of the rollover. The increase is not really an increase.”

According to figures released to The Times by the auditor-controller’s office, the pay plans for the 11 top officials ranged from $75,833 to $182,471 in 1993.

Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg remained the county’s highest-paid official, with a base salary of $123,630 and a benefits package of $58,841.

In addition to his base salary, Wittenberg received $25,652 for his vacation benefit, a perk which automatically gave county leaders an extra seven weeks pay annually.

He also received $9,890 in longevity pay for working for the county since 1969. In addition, he received a $6,182 bonus under the county’s educational incentive program which rewards employees with college educations. Wittenberg holds a law degree.

But unlike the elected officials, Wittenberg’s pay package remained about the same as 1992 because the supervisors did not increase his base pay, as they did for themselves and the others.

Wittenberg, however, will continue receiving several of the perks this year. Overall, his pay plan for 1994 could decrease by more than $10,000, officials say.

Members of the Board of Supervisors, meanwhile, were paid as much as $5,739 more than the year before. While accepting perks carried over from the year before, they raised their base pay from $50,232 to $62,066.

The supervisors, who tied future salary raises to those of Municipal Court judges as set by the state, could have received a 5% raise during the year. But they waived the increase, citing the county’s financial problems.

Supervisor Maria VanderKolk received the largest compensation increase in 1993, with her pay package rising from $90,702 to $96,441, according to the county figures.

VanderKolk received $12,110 for the vacation perk and another $308 in education incentives. The county also contributed $12,266 to VanderKolk’s 401-K plan, since she is not enrolled in the regular retirement program.

Supervisor Susan Lacey received a total pay package of $89,567, about $4,000 more than the year before. She received $11,682 in vacation pay, money she says she has traditionally donated to charity.

Kildee received $97,533 in pay and benefits, about $521 more than last year. She was paid $12,858 in vacation pay and another $2,839 in longevity pay.

Howard received $75,833, the lowest pay package of the county’s elected officials. Her pay was $3,838 less than 1992. Flynn received $80,941, a $7,126 decrease.

“Legally I could have accepted the money, but I didn’t think it was proper for me to do,” Flynn said. “We increased the base pay and it seemed to me that should have been an equitable way to take care of the whole issue. I didn’t feel I should go beyond that.”

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury received a pay package of $160,572, representing a $6,293 increase. His package included a $21,017 vacation bonus and $3,935 in longevity pay.

Treasurer-Tax Collector Hal Pittman’s salary and benefits increased by nearly $9,500 to a total of $130,049. County Clerk Recorder Richard Dean received $127,337, about $8,400 more than 1992.

Because Sheriff Larry Carpenter and Mahon did not take office until Jan. 1 last year, they did not accrue the large benefits. As a result, Carpenter’s pay and perks package was $135,286. Mahon earned $128,854.

Bradbury said most officials were surprised that their pay actually went up, instead of decreasing.

“I don’t think anyone realized what was happening,” Bradbury said in an interview last week. “Everyone was complaining about losing money. I don’t think anyone anticipated it would be to their benefit.”

Michael D. Bradbury

District attorney

Bradbury received a compensation package of $160,572 in 1993, representing a $6,293 increase over the year before. He was the county’s highest-paid elected official.

Maria VanderKolk

Supervisor

VanderKolk received the largest compensation increase of all the supervisors. Her pay went from $90,702 in 1992 to $96,441 in 1993.

John K. Flynn

Supervisor

Flynn refused to accept payment for the lucrative vacation perk, resulting in a $7,126 pay decrease in 1993. His total pay package was $80,941.

Vicky Howard

Supervisor

Howard received $75,833, the lowest pay package of all the county’s elected officials in 1993. Her pay was $3,838 less than the year before because she refused to accept the vacation perk.

County Pay and Benefits Package

Compensation and benefit payments for elected officials and the chief administrative officer in Ventura County in 1993:

7 weeks in lieu Base pay of vacation pay CAO Richard Wittenberg $123,630 $25,652 Supervisor John K. Flynn* $62,066 $0 Supervisor Susan K. Lacey $62,066 $11,682 Supervisor Maria E. VanderKolk $62,066 $12,110 Supervisor Maggie Kildee $62,066 $12,858 Supervisor Vicky Howard* $62,066 $0 Sheriff Larry Carpenter* $122,621 $0 Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury $121,865 $21,017 Treasurer-Tax Collector Hal Pittman $95,593 $16,991 Clerk-Recorder Richard D. Dean $94,345 $16,937 Auditor Controller Thomas O. Mahon* $110,486 $0

*

Longevity Auto Boards and pay allowance commissions CAO Richard Wittenberg $9,890 $4,508 n/a Supervisor John K. Flynn* $2,833 $4,714 $4,165 Supervisor Susan K. Lacey $2,577 $4,714 $115 Supervisor Maria E. VanderKolk $0 $4,714 $1,315 Supervisor Maggie Kildee $2,839 $4,714 $115 Supervisor Vicky Howard* $0 $4,714 $115 Sheriff Larry Carpenter* $0 n/a n/a Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury $3,935 $2,258 n/a Treasurer-Tax Collector Hal Pittman $2,447 $4,508 n/a Clerk-Recorder Richard D. Dean $3,171 $4,508 n/a Auditor Controller Thomas O. Mahon* $0 $4,508 n/a

*

Other 1993 1992 benefits** total pay total pay CAO Richard Wittenberg $18,791 $182,471 $182,740 Supervisor John K. Flynn* $6,962 $80,941 $88,067 Supervisor Susan K. Lacey $8,413 $89,567 $85,507 Supervisor Maria E. VanderKolk $16,236 $96,441 $90,702 Supervisor Maggie Kildee $14,941 $97,533 $97,012 Supervisor Vicky Howard* $8,938 $75,833 $79,671 Sheriff Larry Carpenter* $12,665 $135,286 n/a Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury $11,497 $160,572 $154,279 Treasurer-Tax Collector Hal Pittman $10,510 $130,049 $120,589 Clerk-Recorder Richard D. Dean $8,376 $127,337 $118,947 Auditor Controller Thomas O. Mahon* $13,860 $128,854 n/a

* Flynn and Howard refused to accept payment for seven weeks in lieu of vacation pay. Carpenter and Mahon did not qualify for the vacation and longevity bonuses because they did not take office until Jan. 1. Instead of receiving an auto allowance, Carpenter was issued a vehicle.

** Other benefits include money the county contributed to 401-K plans, educational incentive pay and extra retirement benefits.

Source: The Ventura County Office of the Auditor Controller