Portantino looking to freeze college administrators' salaries
From a press release:
SACRAMENTO, CA - Facing an economic crisis that could leave the state without cash by March 2009, Assemblymember Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) introduced legislation which would provide California immediate savings by prohibiting any pay raises, bonuses, overtime pay, or any other increase in compensation to state employees earning over $150,000 per year. Joining him as co-authors were Assemblymembers Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas).
"California stands at the edge of a budgetary cliff and will fall into a recessionary abyss unless we act immediately," said Portantino, who is also Chairman of the Higher Education Committee. "At a time when we are asking our seniors, our students, and our poor and infirm to bear the budget burden year after year, the least we can do is ask those state employees who are most well-off to forgo any salary increases for the near future. Together, the shared sacrifices will help put California back on track."
As currently proposed, AB 53 would impose a strict, categorical prohibition on any compensation increase for state employees earning over $150,000. The legislation would allow the Governor to make exemptions to the salary freeze for individuals "necessary for protecting the safety and security of the people of California", but would require him to explain why the increase is necessary.
A staffer in Portantino's office tells me that there have been numerous discussions with the CSU board to do the decent and right thing and not continue to increase the pay of high-level administrators and state pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Hence this legislation that will force the issue.
I always wondered what high-level education officials do to justify their high salaries- I'm not saying they do nothing, but I'd sure be interested to see someone do some extensive reporting on how many jobs, how much salary officials make, and what they do in their daily jobs.
UNDER THE DOME
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