By Jeff McDonald, UNION-TRIBUNE
Benefits can add 68% over base pay
San Marcos City Manager Paul Malone isn’t discussing his $400,000-plus compensation package. But the mayor said Wednesday that the community’s top executive is worth every penny.
Malone has declined multiple interview requests since The Watchdog began exploring public-sector salaries across San Diego County earlier this month. He did so again Wednesday.
But Mayor Jim Desmond said his city manager is doing the work of two administrators because he has no assistant manager. Desmond also noted that Malone serves as the top redevelopment official, which also saves the city money.
“You get what you pay for,” Desmond said. “San Marcos is one of the best-managed cities in the county. We are not trying to raise sales taxes in our city. We have not laid off any police and fire employees. Nor have we reduced any services in this down economy.”
Malone topped the list of compensation packages earned by city managers across San Diego County when The Watchdog compiled the base salaries and benefits packages of top public officials.
According to city records, Malone earns a base salary of $242,652 a year and retirement and other benefits that push his total compensation to $408,793. He oversees a 2010-11 budget of $195.1 million and serves just under 85,000 residents.
via San Marcos city manager pay defended – SignOnSanDiego.com.
