Mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration has more than tripled the number of public employees making $175,000 or more, figures obtained by The Examiner show.
As of Oct. 1 at least 25 city employees were making $175,000 or more,
finance office and public school records show. Five city employees, including the mayor, make at least $200,000.
At the same time last year, only eight employees were paid $175,000 or more, the records show. Therewere three employees who made at least $200,000. One of them, former University of the District of Columbia President William L. Pollard, was fired earlier this year but continues to draw his $236,000-plus salary.
The highest-paid official in D.C., schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, is paid $275,000 per year and was given a $41,250 signing bonus. She, in turn, has paid three top aides at least $195,000 per year.
That’s only slightly more than Chief of Police Cathy L. Lanier, who is paid $191,531 per year. Eric Stanchfield, the executive director of the D.C. retirement board, is paid $193,125 per year. District Council Chair Vincent C. Gray makes $190,000 per year and is followed by Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi, who is paid $186,600. Earlier this year, Fenty moved legislation that would have made Gandhi the highest-paid official in D.C., but it remains stalled in Congress and, given the corruption scandal in Gandhi’s tax office, is unlikely to move forward.
Fenty’s aides have said that the high salaries are vital to attract “the best and the brightest” to city government, but an increasing number of city leaders are skeptical.
“Best and the brightest? Please,” said Phil Mendelson, D-at large. “I think we’ve reached a point where we’re overpaying a lot of people.”
Fenty’s spokeswoman Carrie Brooks declined comment for this story.
Mendelson said he’s worried that Fenty is “playing fast and loose” with city employment laws and saddling D.C. taxpayers with one rous contracts. Especially galling was Rhee’s signing bonus, Mendelson said.
“Is this a sports team?” Mendelson asked. “I don’t even know what the legal authority for it is.”
Got a tip on D.C. government? Call Bill Myers at 202-459-4956 or e-mail [email protected].
