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SLO City Council gives top two employees 9.24% pay raises

December 19, 2020

SLO City Manager Derek Johnson

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Amid a pandemic-driven global economic crisis, and shortly following the passage of a sales tax hike, the San Luis Obispo City Council voted to give approximately $20,000 raises, as well as benefit increases, to each of the city’s top two executives.

On Dec. 8, the council approved 9.24 percent salary increases, along with added benefits, for City Manager Derek Johnson and City Attorney Christine Dietrick without any discussion. The raises were part of a consent agenda item that consisted of amending Johnson’s and Dietrick’s contracts.

However, the agenda did not mention raises, and the council did not discuss the matter prior to voting.

With the 9.24 percent increase, Johnson’s base salary will rise from $218,374 a year to $238,550 and Dietrick’s annual salary will increase from $206,622 to $225,706.

Though Johnson’s and Dietrick’s amended employment contracts show they received 9.24 percent raises, a city staff report states the council agreed to give them 5 percent salary increases.

In addition to the raises, the council also awarded Johnson a car allowance of $450 a month, or $5,400 a year, and Dietrick a car allowance of $250 a month, or $3,000 a year.

Likewise, both Johnson and Dietrick can now cash out up to three weeks of unused vacation time annually. Furthermore, Johnson received a one-time cash-out of 107 hours of accrued vacation time for his “commitment and leadership” and limited ability to have gone on vacation since 2018.

The council also voted to increase the city’s contribution to Johnson’s and Dietrick’s retirement plans.

Christine Dietrick

City official stated in a staff report the pay increases bring both Johnson’s and Dietrick’s total compensation to the “median of the market.” The city of SLO frequently compares employees’ pay to compensation given to workers for other cities and government agencies in order to justify salary increases.

For years, San Luis Obispo employees have topped the list of highest paid city workers in the county. Dietrick took the number one spot in 2019 with $376,602 in pay, benefits and pro-rated pension funds, while Johnson garnered $343,626, according to Transparent California.

Last month, San Luis Obispo voters approved an indefinite 1 percent sales tax increase, which was listed on the voting block as a funding source and not as an increase in sales tax.


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While businesses shut their doors in record numbers and the bums have completely taken over downtown to the point of mattresses in abandoned storefronts, you give this guy an attaboy and a raise. Are u kidding?


40

This pay is disgusting, as are most upper echalaunt Slo county Gov positions that exploit democracy for votes and pay raises, be it Democrat or Republican. Local police chiefs with no credentials make 150k plus, not serving as a medic etc, fire chiefs, code inspectors, etc etc. Sheeple we all are, unless you’re a cleft foot goat. Paso Robles city manager, or lack there of, who now promotes mass servalliance, makes 250k+ yearly. New license plate cameras coming to Paso, just approved last week, to fine you! Just like Gavins Bay Area! Thanks Paso for mass Surveillance and poverty based on AG and the Resnicks! Paso, land of taxes, gang shootings and billionaires with egos the size of the sun, and drunk a**holes at the god forbidden fairground, ie, anthrax breeding ground of sin!


15

Well said!


9

Like most people I was taught not to let people take advantage of me, don’t be someone’s doormat yet these city “leaders” are obviously wiping their feet all over hard working taxpayers and rubbing their noses in it. I’m sure there are many reasons as to why they are letting this continue and the sad thing is I only see it getting worse which leads to the question of when and how will it stop.


40

Instead of an economic reset, the fix can be government budget reset, as in essential only until we can afford the luxury of nonsense.


13

Soooo Progressive … NOT. This kind of gov’t makes me …


24

I agree.


I also wonder if on a personal level do these two even feel a very small tinge of embarrassment? SLO is a small town, people know who they are and recognize them, or some do, when they go into a grocery store or anyplace,


Just wondering out loud


10

The trouble is that you and I only know of one color of money and government has different colors of money. Government has a budget that allocates funds to different sub-budgets or as they call it different colors of money. Never mind the different layers of funding sources, it all comes from the taxpayer’s one color of money. As we pay more taxes, they actually disassociate your one color of money from their pay raise because that money comes from a different, previously budgeted color of money. Surely all of this is process driven by a different budget and there is a full time job too.


23

Absolutely unbelievable! People are hurting, food banks inundated with unemployed, small businesses laying off hard working staff, unemployment benefits running out…Yet these two have the unmitigated temerity to accept a pay raise, in the midst of all this. And, a City Council that passed this without discussion or any reservations. They are all shameless and disgusting, just disgusting.


Folks, nothing will change until the voters hold City elected officials and City management accountable. There needs to be a movement to take this city back, remove Johnson and Deitrich and adjust management salaries.


Unbelievable!!


49

There was a movement in November. They won – handily.


11

Oh wow, who didn’t see this coming? Oh yeah, the droves of people that voted for the sales tax increase. It’s for capital projects they said! Not a penny to salaries they promised…LOL…what a travesty!!! It’s all getting so old. The City of SLO has to be one of the most poorly run cities anywhere. Yeah, any moron can run an enterprise that has no apparent funding limitations (increased revenue from taxes and fees, or deficit spending such as the unfunded pension liabilities). The trick is to run a City within a reasonable budget while providing a reasonable level of services. This City administration does not achieve either. Lastly, who accepts a 9% percent raise in this economic climate? Someone that is completely clueless to the reality around them. Plain sad really.


69

thats what you idiots get when you keep voting for tax increases.


75

And an allowance for a car???!!! These huge salaries aren’t considered enough to supply your own car?? This is a total scam on the taxpayers. No way these people are worth this level of compensation. What do they really do to be worth this to the taxpayers ? What? Yeah. Raise taxes and give the money to these tax taking scammers. Part of the

elite political class, like Newsom. Or are they just all run of the mill con artists?


71

Johnson especially needs the car allowance. He gets around town on a motorcycle, and when on city business drives a city car. What a scam. Why aren’t these upityups the least bit embarrassed by being so greedy — especially right now? Cause they think they’re entitled and special. Just like the mayor.


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