Politics & Government

Berkeley Taxpayers Are Sick of Paying the Exorbitant Salaries of Some City Employees

Should residents foot the bill for the comfortable lifestyle of city employees?

Former City Manager Phil Kamlarz, for example, retired in November with a payout of $150,000 in unused sick and vacation time plus a yearly pension that exceeded his $243,000 annual salary.

 The city's contract with the interim city manager, Christine Daniel is... receiving a salary of $225,000 and would get a year's severance pay, even if she's fired.

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Additionally, Berkeley owes employees $500 million in future pensions. It hasn't yet set aside the money for these pensions. This, in the face of increasing cut backs to senior centers and “public works and other services,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

But the city counters, saying it has more employees than other cities is because it offers more services than other cities. Berkeley has more fire stations, more police and its own mental health department.

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 The San Francisco Chronicle says:

City Councilman Kriss Worthington proposed pension reform as part of any tax measure the city puts forth. He also wants to see the pain spread equally among residential and commercial property owners, whose assessed property values vary widely due to Proposition 13.

"In the spirit of the 99 percent, we need to make sure homeowners are not disproportionately hit," he said. "In light of the bad economy, we need to have a very sober debate."

So, what's the solution?


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