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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 City work can bring big bucks. Call it a case of wealth envy, but few issues get the public worked up like public workers taking home a big paycheck. And thanks to overtime pay, bus drivers remain some of the top paid employees in the city of Madison. New figures show that 43 city employees made more than $100,000 in 2006, topped by comptroller Dean Brasser at $133,927. The numbers include base pay, overtime, sick leave payout or vacation payout at retirement. City engineer Larry Nelson was the second highest paid city worker at $133,463. City attorney Michael May at $125,040 was third. Not surprisingly, attorneys, fire fighters and police officers dominate the list of the city's "$100,000 Club." The $100K Club also includes two bus drivers: John Nelson, the 18th best-paid city employee at $113,610 and Roger Waggoner No. 32 at $103,786. Two other drivers were among the top 60 wage earners. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was 23rd on the list at $111,544. The city has roughly 2,700 full-time employees with at least 700 earning more than $63,000 annually, according to figures circulated last week by local watchdog Mike Roach. (For a complete list, e-mail Roach at mikero9@charter.net). Of the city's top paid 50 employees, seven are attorneys, 11 work in the fire department and 13 in the police department. Fire chief Debra Amesqua was paid $112,673 last year but that figure was topped by three of her assistant chiefs: Michael Dirienzo ($117,340), Paul Bloom ($114,959) and James Keiken ($114,451). Police chief Noble Wray was the city's top-paid cop at $121,349 followed by assistant chiefs Randall Graber ($117,772) and Charles Cole ($114,384). High pay for bus drivers became a big issue in the late 1990s when it was reported that four bus drivers were among the city's top 50 in earnings. Drivers evolved into some of the city's highest earners immediately after Madison Metro changed from a Downtown hub to a transfer station system in mid-1998. The change left Metro short of drivers to cover new routes while contract provisions limited Metro's ability to use part-time drivers during commuter peaks and let senior drivers amass large amounts of overtime. In fact, a bus driver was the city's pay leader in 1998 and 1999, and five drivers were among the top 25 earners in 1999. Although many drivers still earn high wages, Metro has been more aggressive in filling vacancies and has gotten a better handle on overtime over the past two years, although the latest figures suggest drivers who pick up additional shifts can still earn big money. Other top city salaries of note include outgoing Metro general manager Catherine Debo at $117,115; embattled city water utility manager David Denig-Chakroff at $116,440 and city planning and development director Mark Olinger at $115,015. Interim Overture Center director Michael Goldberg, who resigned after not getting the job permanently, was paid $102,999 last year.
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