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Bell (California) City Manager Makes Nearly $800,000 A Year
Los Angeles Wave ^ | Jul 15, 2010 | N/A

Posted on 07/19/2010 6:44:21 PM PDT by Spktyr

One of the poorest cities in Los Angeles County has come under public scrutiny for paying its top officials some of the highest salaries in the nation, including almost $800,000 annually for its city manager.

The city of Bell pays Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo $787,637 annually, and also pays police Chief Randy Adams $457,000 a year, about 50 percent more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck or Sheriff Lee Baca make, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia is paid $376,288 annually, which is more than most city managers are paid. Rizzo, who has run Bell’s day-to-day civic affairs since 1993, was unapologetic about his salary, The Times reported.

“If that’s a number people choke on, maybe I’m in the wrong business,” Rizzo said. “I could go into private business and make that money. This council has compensated me for the job I’ve done.”

Bell Mayor Oscar Hernandez defended the salaries, and he and other City Council members told the newspaper that their city was near bankruptcy when Rizzo came aboard. Since then, they said, he has put Bell on sound financial footing, with its general fund nearly tripling to about $15 million.

Bell made headlines in recent weeks when the city of 37,000 agreed to take over operations of the neighboring city of Maywood, which fired most of its employees and disbanded its police department when it could not obtain insurance.

The salaries do not appear to violate any laws, but an investigation is being conducted, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Dave Demerjian, head of the office’s Public Integrity Division said state law governs how much city council members can be paid, but not the amounts that council members decide to pay administrators.

The DA’s office is investigating Bell over the hefty compensation amounts of its City Council members, about $100,000 a year for part-time positions. Normally, council members in a city the size of Bell would be paid about $400 a month, Demerjian said. The council has increased its compensation by paying members for serving on a variety of city agencies, and each member is paid $7,873 per month for sitting on the boards.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: bell; failafornia; maywood; unsustainable
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To: Spktyr
what do you want to bet all of them are raging democrats. The problem is getting rid of these overpaid city employees. I am sure the council will have a tough time getting reelected after this has been exposed. But you can bet their are golden parachutes for the city employees that will make it too difficult and expensive to get rid of them.
21 posted on 07/19/2010 7:04:53 PM PDT by martinidon
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To: Lurker
In a rational world this 'manager' and the entire City Council that approved this arrangement would be swinging by their heels in the Town Square.

Things are about to get really rational all over the country, really soon.

22 posted on 07/19/2010 7:04:57 PM PDT by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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To: Spktyr

city managers are overpaid.


23 posted on 07/19/2010 7:06:24 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: Psycho_Bunny

You have nailed it spot on.


24 posted on 07/19/2010 7:07:34 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (Vote Jill Stein for governor.)
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To: circlecity

What a salary like that must do to pension benefits (and contributions by the city) has to be frightening. On the other hand, the article does not mention his age, maybe his pension will not be there when he gets to retirement (as in Illinois) so, it may be phantom concern. Still, that’s pile of dough.


25 posted on 07/19/2010 7:07:48 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Rome2000

Heavens above, I hope you’re right.


26 posted on 07/19/2010 7:08:19 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: Rome2000
Things are about to get really rational all over the country, really soon.

I'm very, very afraid that you're right. One things for sure, though. Whether you're right or wrong things are going to get very ugly either way.

L

27 posted on 07/19/2010 7:13:18 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: muawiyah

It reminds me of a certain school district. The district is a mess. So, the board must hire a Superintendent. No one in his right mind wants the job. But the district needs someone anyway. In order to get someone, they have to have a huge salary and perks to entice applicants. The board knows that any given applicant is only going to stay a while, then will bug out. Then the process begins again.


28 posted on 07/19/2010 7:14:15 PM PDT by Enterprise (As a disaster unfolds, a putz putts.)
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To: muawiyah

Definite telecommute or flex-time material.


29 posted on 07/19/2010 7:17:13 PM PDT by aposiopetic
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To: Spktyr

They have a mayor and a city manager?? For 37,000 people? What does the mayor do? Ok, the mayor manages the city manager. I can see that ....but ...


30 posted on 07/19/2010 7:23:57 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("I Am Molly Norris")
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To: Spktyr
Bell Mayor Oscar Hernandez defended the salaries, and he and other City Council members told the newspaper that their city was near bankruptcy when Rizzo came aboard. Since then, they said, he has put Bell on sound financial footing, with its general fund nearly tripling to about $15 million.

If this is true then maybe he's worth it.

31 posted on 07/19/2010 7:24:21 PM PDT by abigailsmybaby ( I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did. Yogi Berra)
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To: SkyDancer

“If that’s a number people choke on, maybe I’m in the wrong business,” Rizzo said. “I could go into private business and make that money. This council has compensated me for the job I’ve done.”

This city hack has a pretty high opinion of himself. I wonder what private sector employer would pay this clown $800,000 per annum. What value does he bring to the table?


32 posted on 07/19/2010 7:29:45 PM PDT by chuckee
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To: TomServo
Rizzo said. “I could go into private business and make that money.

Then do it, leech...

(censored)in' A.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

33 posted on 07/19/2010 7:31:43 PM PDT by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: Spktyr

Yes Cal voters are the classic example of voting for a bigger trough so that more pigs can feast. And don’t get me starting on environmental laws.


34 posted on 07/19/2010 7:33:09 PM PDT by whence911 (Here illegally? Go home. Get in line!)
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To: Spktyr
Hmmmm!It might just be time for the citinenry of

Bell Ca. to dust off those pitchforks!!!!

35 posted on 07/19/2010 7:36:03 PM PDT by Cheapskate (Play loud and carry BIG sticks!)
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To: Spktyr

Word in the LA Times is the city manager will be fired tonight at the city council meeting. Now the part-time city council members who make over $100K per year just need to fire the police chief and themselves while they are at it.


36 posted on 07/19/2010 7:38:54 PM PDT by blue state conservative
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To: Spktyr
"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
37 posted on 07/19/2010 8:00:46 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Obama suffers from decision-deficit disorder." Oliver North 6/25/10)
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To: Spktyr
I've explained this 1000 times....

Corrupt government at all levels, from the top down...

Long ago, they forgot who they work for.

GOVERNMENT UNIONS

38 posted on 07/19/2010 8:00:57 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

Waaaaaah, he’s talking bad about California! Make him stop!

Waaaaah!


39 posted on 07/19/2010 8:18:40 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: chuckee

My question is what does he do for the 37,000 citizens for that kind of money ... and where does it come from since the article says it’s one of the poorer places in CA ....


40 posted on 07/19/2010 8:24:10 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("I Am Molly Norris")
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