(Ann Arbor)Transit Authority: $1 Million Deficit, Highest Paid Executives

MichCapCon ^ | 9-30-11 | Tom Gantert

[Mikey_1962]

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority has a nearly $1 million deficit projected for fiscal 2011-12 at a time when its top executives are among the highest paid transit bosses in the state.

The AATA has eight employees making $90,000 or more, according to a Freedom of Information Act request. The AATA has 171 employees and a $21.4 million operating budget.

Grand Rapids, which has 308 employees and a $31.9 million operating budget, had four employees making $90,000 or more. Flint, which has a $21 million operating budget, has two employees making $90,000 or more.

Jackson Transit Agency’s highest paid employee is the general manager, who makes $75,524.

The Kalamazoo Metro Transit has one employee making $90,000 or more. The executive director made $102,861 in 2010.

“If these were private-sector businesses operating on their own, employee pay would be none of our business,” said Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “Transit agencies would dry up and blow away without massive taxpayer subsidies and that makes it the people’s business.”

Michael Ford, the CEO of the AATA, was the highest paid administrator at $183,895.

Ford didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

The other AATA administrators making $90,000 or more included: Dawn Gabay, deputy CEO, $116,289; Ed Robertson, human resources director, $104,394; Christopher White, service development manager, $98,274; Philip Webb, controller, $93,514; Ronnie Copeland, transportation manager, $93,344; Terry Black, maintenance manager, $93,063; Janet Hallber, IT manager, $92,529.

[Mikey_1962]

"Michael Ford, the CEO of the AATA, was the highest paid administrator at $183,895."

Sucking at the teat.

[Mr. K]

What does a “trasport authority” do that is worth $21 million a year?

[Mikey_1962]

The vast majority of that money is support to make up for the lack of ridership.

I mean AA is a 30 minute drive from Metro Detroit! The most car crazy people in the world.

I went to U of M in AA and never rode the AATA ever!

[johnandrhonda]

Must have been painful to go to school there if you are a conservative...one of the most liberal places in the country. So, overpaying public employee execs running a money losing business is to be expected.

[Eccl 10:2]

Bush and Cheney’s fault for driving up fuel prices with their illegal war.

/s

[grellis]

MICHIGAN PING LIST

Please freepmail me if you wish to be added or dropped from the mitten ping.

[kjo]

You have NO idea of how bad it is in AA. I have talked to conservative, religious kids who go to school there when they are home on vacation. They keep a very low profile. Professors and administrators are engaged in lockstep liberalism...anybody who doesn’t fit in is at best ignorned. At worse your life can be made a misery.

Fascists.

[Mr. K]

i understand- but i was thinking more realistically

what do they do for 21 millions dollars?

I think we should audit every single penny from the government

[johnandrhonda]

I live in Columbus. You could have gone to Ohio State. Not nearly as liberal, but there are still plenty of them, of course. Some of the prof’s live in my neighborhood. One neighborhood couple in particular is Jewish and from NYC, both PhD’s at Ohio State and former libs that are now very conservative. They don't talk about that much “at school”, they told me.
OSU....Better football team, too. ( Except this year)
Best regards, John

[LongWayHome]

The only good thing to ever come out of AA was Bob Seger. The place is a liberal nut-house.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping; post. DEFUND socialist colletives and their UNaccountable bureaucrats.