Regional flood group holds off pay hikes

SACRAMENTO — Employees of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency were in line to receive raises of up to 127 percent — until the board put off a decision for three weeks.

The agency's board planned to take up the raises Thursday, but instead postponed the vote to its May 7 meeting.

Sutter County is a member of the agency.

"It's a touchy situation for a good reason, the salaries for public officials when everybody's struggling," Sutter County Supervisor James Gallagher said Friday.

Gallagher represents the county on the agency's board of directors.

Executive Director Stein Buer says the raises are needed to treat current employees fairly and to recruit future employees. Buer already got a $57,000 raise, to $210,000 — a 36 percent increase.

Under the proposal, 10 of 16 agency employees would have received new job titles but kept the same duties for higher pay, according to Gallagher.

Among those who had been slated for higher pay were the chief financial officer, two engineering directors and the planning director.

Buer says the higher salaries are based a survey of similar employers. Gallagher acknowledged the lure of higher salaries at private firms or state agencies, but added "I don't believe that raises for any public officials are prudent, considering the economic times we're in."

The board includes Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento City Council members, Sacramento County supervisors and representatives from area flood control districts.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Howard Yune contributed to this report.