The Numbers Game in Columbus
Thursday, July 30th, 2009 By Lynn WalshIn a recent article mentioning the research and numbers behind the Buckeye Institute’s series on the City of Columbus Employee Salary Database some of the numbers provided in the article, “More Money, More Problems,” were challenged.
The median household income in the City of Columbus according to the Economic Research Service was $37,897 in 2000. The $48,076 referred to in the article is based on numbers from 2007 for Franklin County and not just Columbus, Ohio. Median household income numbers from 2007 were not used because a variety of sources referenced figures ranging from $42,253 to $48,076.
Either way, household income by definition can include more than one “bread-winner.” The median income for ONE city employee is still more than that. An individual working for the City of Columbus can potentially makes more money than an entire household living in the city.
The article continues by configuring the median income for City of Columbus employees without including overtime pay. By doing this calculation the author points out an alarming fact: the median income with overtime is $4,934 more than the median income without it included. This reiterates the vast amount of overtime employees working for the city make.
The City of Columbus paid out more than $28 million in overtime last year alone. That is more than 30% of the amount of money the city hopes to raise with the proposed income tax increase on August 4, 2009.
All of these calculations, both on the Buckeye Blog and in the other article do not include pension, benefits, or retirement. The Division of Police alone expects to pay out close to $9 million; that is for only two union organizations and includes only the City’s share of pension payments.
Individuals living in Columbus make less than city employees and do not have the same pension plans or health and retirement benefits.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:33 am
A small sampling of city employees who are on payroll while Columbus is on a so-called diet:
TRANSPORTATION-Department average salary $42,977
3 Gardners, 1 Gardner Supervisors,
5 Maintenance Carpenters, 3 Parking Meter Repairers, 2 Prevailing Wage Coordinators, 3 Public Relations Specialists, 1 Storekeeper, 2 Senior Storekeepers, 3 Sign Painter-Fabricators, 11 Street Clean & Maintenance Supervisors, 4 Trades Helpers
PUBLIC UTILITIES-Power & Water. Department average salary $43,956
10 Automotive Mechanics, 4 Automotive Mechanic Supervisors, 6 Building Maintenance Workers, 3 Building Maintenance Supervisors, 2 Heat Vent/Air Conditioning Technicians, 26 Laborers, 2 Lamp Servicers, 3 Maintenance Carpenters, 3 Maintenance Painters, 9 Senior Storekeepers, 5 Storekeepers, 28 Water Maintenance Supervisors, 34 Water Maintenance Workers, 3 Water Plant Attendants
PUBLIC UTILITIES-Sewerage & Drainage. Department average salary $44,097
9 Automotive Mechanics, 2 Automotive Mechanic Supervisors, 1 Automotive Partskeeper, 7 Senior Storekeepers, 44 Plant Maintenance Mechanics, 6 Plant Maintenance Supervisors, 3 Sewer Maintenance Assistant Managers, 1 Sewer Maintenance Manager, 14 Sewer Maintenance Supervisors, 48 Sewer Mainenance Workers, 28 Sewer Service Workers, 30 Water Plant Supervisors
RECREATION & PARKS. Department average salary $21,303 (due to massive numbers of part-time employees, e.g. lifeguards)
108 Aging Programs Care Coordinators, 3 Arborists, 8 Gardners, 3 Gardner Supervisors, 1 Horticultural Specialist, 34 Laborers, 1 Locksmith, 3 Park Maintenance Assistant Managers, 11 Park Maintenance Supervisors, 2 Public Relations Specialists, 14 Recreation Administrative Managers, 33 Recreation Center Managers, 37 Recreation Leaders, 262 Recreation Instructors, 10 Recreation Service Representatives, 36 Recreation Supervisors, 14 Tree Trimmers, 6 Tree Trimmer Supervisors
FINANCE-Fleet Management. Department average salary $42,617
3 Automotive Body Mechanics, 15 Automotive Mechanic Supervisors, 79 Automotive Mechanics, 3 Automotive Mechanic Helpers, 3 Fleet Attendants
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. Department average salary $75,054
14 Executive Assistants, 2 Senior Executive Assistants, 3 Executive Secretaries
TOTAL EMPLOYEES (2008) 9,911
LARGEST GENERAL REVENUE FUND EXPENDITURES by Category
Police $166 million
Fire $123.6 million
Retirement Benefits $43 million
Power & Water $35.4 million
Sewerage & Drainage $27.7 million
Health Dept. $21.2 million
Transportation $23 million
(Source: 2008 City Payroll)
“…people who work for Columbus should receive less in city benefits. …perks are more generous—the city picks up the entire pension contribution for about two-thirds of its workers (~6,500)—than what’s offered by other governments and private companies.“ (City of Columbus Economic Advisory Panel, 2009)
Any questions?