Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

County manager's pay may rise to $300,000

by Dave Boyce

The Board of Supervisors in San Mateo County is poised to hire on a permanent basis County Manager John Maltbie — he's been interim manager since November 2011 — and quickly raise his salary to $300,000 from the $270,233 that the permanent position now pays.

The one-page proposal is included in the agenda for the board's meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 400 County Center in Redwood City. (The meeting is after the Almanac's print deadline. Check AlmanacNews.com for an update.)

Mr. Maltbie had retired from the job in 2008 but returned to county government after his successor, David S. Boesch, resigned Nov. 4, 2011. Mr. Maltbie's compensation as interim manager has been $100 per hour with no health benefits and no vacation or sick leave.

The year-long arrangement as interim manager apparently allowed him to simultaneously collect his pension benefits from the county of $133,000 per year from his 20 years as county manager. The new contract, which would be for four years, would restore his health benefits but suspend his pension payments, according to the staff report.

The proposed raise is "based on the County's review of the compensation of other Chief Executive Officers of other Bay Area public entities," the report says.

In the Nov. 6 election, voters approved Measure A, a half-cent increase in the sales tax for 10 years and expected to add $60 million per year to the county's general fund. The measure, according to the ballot statement, was intended to address "increased demand for, and expenses in providing, essential County services and facilities that its residents rely on."

Among the long list of intended beneficiaries of this tax revenue were child abuse protection programs, 911 emergency dispatch services, healthcare for low-income children, seniors and disabled, fire prevention and response, and pre-school after-school and library programs for children and teens, including reading programs and homework centers.