Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett’s office is spending nearly $160,000 annually on salary and benefits for a longtime political ally and former County Council member to head a commission that meets four times a year.
Recommended Stories
Budget documents reviewed by The Washington Examiner show that the county is doling out $158,464 in compensation to Michael Subin, executive director of the county’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, which is tasked with “coordinating communication” among Montgomery’s law enforcement agencies. Subin sat on the County Council with Leggett 25 years ago and has remained a steadfast supporter of the suburb’s top elected official since leaving the body after two decades.
Leggett has rejected calls to eliminate the position even though the panel is not required to issue a single report in a given year and although the post formerly was filled by county workers with other responsibilities — and the county faces a gaping hole in next fiscal year’s budget.
“The additional loss of another position would further compromise my staff’s ability to fulfill the mission of the county executive’s office,” Leggett wrote in a memo. “The executive director position must be a high-level, appointed position, directly representing the county executive.”
Leggett, whose office budget was slashed by 23 percent this year, said reassigning the role to another department would “create the appearance of either favoritism or a particular direction which would undermine the rationale of the commission.” Subin’s compensation makes up the commission’s entire budget.
Subin has held the job for four years, but the position is on the chopping block, as the council reviews roughly $30 million worth of annual savings tied to a potential restructuring of the work force.
In addition to his taxpayer-funded salary, Subin works as a lawyer in Montgomery County. He did not return calls for comment Thursday.
Subin’s compensation raised some eyebrows among county officials on the verge of yet another dire budget season.
“Wow, that is way more money than I thought,” said Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large, when told of the salary. “If it really is that much for a part-time position, we’re going to have to take a look at it. I really wonder whether that’s an appropriate amount.”
Others were even more critical.
“It looks bad,” said one high-ranking county official who asked to remain anonymous. “To be paying that much to one of your political buddies — for, let’s face it, not that much work — is outrageous with our budget situation.”
Leggett is scheduled to announce his budget blueprint Tuesday, which is expected to include widespread cuts across all agencies as the county faces a $300 million shortfall next fiscal year.
