The highest-paid Fairfax County employees aren’t necessarily those with the highest base salaries, and many in the upper echelons of the county staff reaped tens of thousands in additional compensation last year, according to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
Overtime, bonuses and leave payments ratcheted up pay levels substantially and put the pay ofsome staff members above that of their department heads. For example, more than two dozen Fire and Rescue Department employees took home more than Fire Chief Michael Neuhard, who in calendar year 2006 earned a total $151,878. A deputy sheriff first lieutenant made $184,318.
The documents provided by the county covered the nearly 13,000 Fairfax County employees making over $10,000 a year, but did not include school system or Economic Development Authority staff. County spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald, citing privacy guidelines, provided only the employee’s position when listing total compensation.
The figures do, however, give a more complete picture of how the largest local government in Virginia allocates some of its $5.5 billion annual budget for personnel.
Last year, those 13,000 employees incurred $50 million in overtime and $23 million in sick leave. Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerald Connolly said overtime can be justified — especially in public safety — but said he hopes the county is “keeping a lid” on the amount it allows.
“I don’t believe overtime ought to be a routine thing,” he said. “It ought to be an extraordinary thing. It ought not to be seen as a normal routine complement to one’s salary.”
Only certain employees are eligible for overtime, and Fitzgerald said some higher paid employees are eligible only for comp time. Agency directors, she said, are eligible for neither overtime nor comp time, but can still receive bonuses.
Still, top officials last year saw sizable supplements to their salaries. County Executive Anthony Griffin, the highest-ranking appointee of the Board of Supervisors, earned a $213,960 base salary in 2006 and brought in an extra $32,029 that year. County Attorney David Bobzien made $183,680 in base salary, but $205,145 in total. Some made relatively modest increases. Chief Information Officer David Molchany, only took in about $2,000 more than his base salary. The county would not provide details on how the extra amounts broke down.
