Today, Transparent California released 2014 public employee compensation data — complete with names, pay, and benefits — for 43 of Inland Empire’s largest special districts, representing over 80 percent of all Inland Empire special district workers.

The average full-time, year-round Chino Valley Fire Independent District worker received $200,764 in compensation — the highest of any Inland Empire special district surveyed.

The next three Inland Empire special districts with the highest average compensation packages — for special districts with at least 50 full-time, year-round employees — were:

2. Western Municipal Water District: $138,297
3. Rancho California Water District: $132,649
4. Desert Water Agency: $129,724

Click here to view this information for all 43 Inland Empire special districts surveyed.

The three highest-compensated Inland Empire special district workers were:

1. Rubidoux Community Services general manager David Lopez: $456,695
2. Desert Water Agency general manager David Luker: $432,699
3. Eastern Municipal Water District general manager Paul Jones: $430,175

Chino Valley Fire tops OT list

Employees of the Chino Valley Independent Fire District received more overtime (OT) than any other Inland Empire special district worker. The top OT earners were:

1. Fire engineer Franklin Sexton more than doubled his $103,361 salary with an additional OT payout of: $110,467
2. Fire captain Keith Stroup collected an OT payout of: $81,956
3. Fire captain Donald Ross collected an OT payout of: $76,215

Transparent California’s research director Robert Fellner noted that transparency in the typically-overlooked special districts is vital.

“The recent flood of rate hikes by California water districts demonstrates why it is so important that taxpayers have complete information as to how their money is being spent.”

Statewide

The average special district spent $122,456 in total compensation per full-time, year-round employee. The average compensation at special districts in various geographical regions was:

1. Bay Area: $155,488
2. Inland Empire: $105,356
3. Marin County: $150,758
4. Los Angeles County: $117,617
5. Orange County: $120,332
6. Sacramento Valley: $110,301
7. San Diego: $120,111
8. Statewide: $122,456

Compensation is defined as total wages plus the employer cost of retirement and health benefits. Full-time employees are defined as those receiving a salary equal or greater than the “annual salary minimum” reported.

To view the entire dataset in a searchable and downloadable format, visit TransparentCalifornia.com

To schedule an interview with Transparent California, please contact Robert Fellner at 559-462-0122 or Robert@TransparentCalifornia.com.

Transparent California is California’s largest and most comprehensive database of public sector compensation and is a project the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a nonpartisan, free-market think tank. Learn more at TransparentCalifornia.com.