Dear Editor,
Re:”City’s high earners top B.C,” News Feb. 11.
President Obama’s annual salary is $400,000. U.S. Cabinet Secretaries make a bit under $200,000, and there are 14 such positions.
Did I doze off and wake up to find Richmond had became a world super power with a population of more than 300,000,000, its own military, intelligence agencies, space program, etc? That can be the only viable explanation as to why the City of Richmond needs 13 employees taking home $200,000 plus last year — even if that includes benefits and vacation payouts.
It’s a good thing that Richmond property taxes were recently raised in order to provide these public servants with the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.
As was stated in the article, Richmond has more employees compensated at that level than Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and anywhere else in B.C.
How is that possible and who is to answer for it?
Coming on the heels of city council voting down a motion for an independent review of expenditures, these factors don’t exactly build the public trust in our municipal government.
Shame on all of them for riding in style on the shoulders of Richmond residents. I don’t know how to change this culture, but change is what is needed.
Donald Grant
Richmond
Unused vacation time the problem
It was interesting to read the Mayor’s letter in your Feb. 13 edition. If you compare base salaries, you’ll see what’s going on here is the fact employees are not taking their vacations and this needs to be corrected.
We are talking about people in supposedly stressful, senior positions. I want the people running the city to be working at the top of their game — that’s why holidays are allotted.
The mayor also argues we need to pay these high salaries to attract and keep these people.
I have lived here for 58 years, and a lot of these city employees went to school with my children. They got jobs at city hall with no special training or skills; their promotions, it appears, are seniority driven. Due to their benefits programs, they can’t afford to leave.
I am very sure there are many people, more qualified, who would love to work for city hall — for less money.
Gordon Hercus
Richmond
City finances need review
Dear Editor,
There is something seriously wrong with how Richmond manages its finances — the taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
We have heard for several years that municipal spending is out of control. It is infuriating to learn that Richmond is the top of the spending heap with 13 city bureaucrats taking home more than $200,000 (salary plus benefits and vacation payout); more than any other city or municipality in B.C. There is absolutely no justification for this at all.
What’s the solution?
1. Change the way compensation is set for senior managers. Cut the number of high paid bureaucrats. I can immediately find two cuts: the two senior managers for the Olympic Oval costing us $433,500? The current managers who manage other city facilities can assume these responsibilities. (Assuming we need the Oval at all, but that is another tax story.)
2. Completely review all other city spending. Set targets for each department to come up with annual savings (rather than budget increases). If the current senior bureaucrats cannot find the savings, replace them with more creative ones who can . . . at a lower salary!
3. Who will manage this change? City council has not proven successful or motivated so far. Maybe we need a “blue ribbon” panel from the business community and community at large. We could find well-qualified specialists who would be willing to work for a dollar a day, as long as council is committed to adopt the changes. Perhaps the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation would be willing to lend a body to this panel.
The city leaders are now completely on the wrong track.
Rather than approving a two per cent tax increase, they should be looking at two per cent plus tax decrease this year and the next five years.
It is achievable if we challenge ourselves to demand change and our mayor and council accept this challenge.
Steven Guthrie
Richmond
