Last week, a Press-Telegram editorial focused on the city council’s Budget Oversight Committee and its approval of a proposal to restrict city financing of tables at events and “restricting travel and creating a review board that would oversee management-level hires amid a hiring freeze.” City financing of tables at events will save money. But restricting travel and limiting management-level hires, including a hiring freeze, might not.
City Manager Pat West needs to consider the long-term implications of restricting travel, instituting hiring freezes and even limiting management-level pay increases for city employees from 12 percent to 7 percent. The long-term implications of this action, in my opinion, might diminish the morale of West’s executive team and not give any management-level employee a reason to stay with the City of Long Beach.
Why would a manager want to work for a city who tells me, on one hand times are bad and on the other hand we need to work harder to find solutions?
Why would a manager want to work harder to fix problems for a decreased opportunity for reward?
One could argue that it is a manager’s responsibility to fix the problems they helped create. I agree. However, in reality, fixing problems in government takes more time than getting a new job with another city. Also, management-level reaction to limiting their compensation has not always given us the streamlined government we all want, contrary to popular belief.
For example, a few years ago, the city council’s attempt to limit management pay levels led to the creation of a city management union adding yet another level of bureaucracy, protection, paper work and hurdles. Management-level staff are not stupid. At least the good ones. They know better.
That’s why I will not be surprised if the good ones flock south.
Remember Mike Killebrew, former City of Long Beach finance director who had to deal with the budget decisions of the council and charged with fixing the city’s financial mess along with former city manager Jerry Miller? Killebrew is now with the City of Dana Pointe. Miller “retired” after less than 5 years as city manager.
The bad ones will just stay in their positions, reap the rewards of security and a nice pension when they retire and continue to be a thorn in the side of West’s attempt to move us out of a $10 million shortfall.
Bottom-line: while restricting management-level compensation in many forms might seem like the politically right thing to do in tough times, it might not be the right answer in motivating management-level staff and recruiting others to get us back to the good times.
Your comments below are encouraged.