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'Pay raise' actually a cut for county manager

by Dave Boyce

A unanimous San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 23 introduced a measure to raise the annual salary of the county manager to $300,000. If the board approves the measure in January, the $30,000, 11-percent raise would benefit John Maltbie, the county manager for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2008 and who the board has rehired after 13 months as interim manager.

But while $300,000 is a raise, it is actually a cut in Mr. Maltbie's pay, for both his interim managerial work and when he was in the position permanently.

As interim manager for the year that began in November 2011, Mr. Maltbie made around $325,000 during the 12 months, if you include his retirement pay, according to calculations confirmed by supervisors Don Horsley and Dave Pine. He received $133,000 in retirement money, which he is entitled to draw from the county provided he worked as interim manager fewer than 960 hours per fiscal year. Because he began and is terminating his interim position around the middle of two fiscal years, 2011-12 and 2012-13, he met the 960-hour requirement for both years and earned $192,000 at $100 an hour during the 12 months.

As permanent manager, Mr. Maltbie was paid $270,000 but regularly made around $342,000, Mr. Horsley told the Almanac. How? By exercising a privilege granted to the county manager and the county counsel: they receive nine weeks of vacation per year (another singular privilege) and they can cash in unused vacation and raise their salaries while retaining their jobs.

These privileges are still in effect for both Mr. Maltbie and County Counsel John Beiers, which Mr. Beiers confirmed in an email. If Mr. Maltbie exercises this privilege, he could increase his new salary to $352,000, but the board has suggested, and Mr. Maltbie apparently agrees, that he will not do that. The contract includes the following sentence: "It is the intention of the County Manager and Board of Supervisors that the County Manager fully utilize his annual vacation accrual."

"These were the terms that were negotiated to retain him," Mr. Pine said in an interview. "One of the most important decisions a government board will ever make is (choosing) the chief executive officer. From my perspective, you want to find the best person you can and have confidence in that person's abilities."

Had Mr. Maltbie not been interested in the job, a recruiter would likely have done a salary survey and returned with a figure close to $300,000, Mr. Beiers said. The salary has been unchanged for five years, he said, adding that the county did do an "informal" salary survey. "We want to attract top talent."

Posted by Overpaid Govt Employees, a resident of the Woodside: Emerald Hills neighborhood, on Dec 21, 2012 at 3:03 pm

I understand Silicon Valley is a unique expensive area. I will give you that. However, I do not understand in the worst economic times since the Great Depression, why are our local govts handing out $300,000 salaries? EVERYONE needs to do their share for society. Can't he be paid half that ($150,000) and still feel "well-paid" for this local area. I was told the "poverty level" in Silicon Valley is around $60,000/year. He still is well above that!!! Come on people. The local taxpayers are struggling.

Posted by Michael G. Stogner, a resident of another community, on Dec 21, 2012 at 3:52 pm

"A unanimous San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 23 " this meting took place on December 11, 20102 not Dec 23

I don't have a clue why or how $300,000 is less than $270,000 in anybody's book.

the 9 weeks of vacation with the CASH IN privilege only given to two of our over 5,000 employees should be addressed. Who were the Supervisors who approved this?

Posted by Renee Batti, news editor of The Almanac, on Dec 21, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Renee Batti is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online

Thanks, Michael. We corrected it in the original story, but missed the version on this thread. It's now fixed.