With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Vernon, Bell's Neighbor, Also Has Sky High Salaries
What's up southeastern L.A. County? First there was Bell, which was paying its part time city council about $100,000 a year and it's city manager nearly $800,000, which added to his total compensation of $1.5 million a year. The L.A. Times broke that story and now they've found sketchy salaries in neighboring Vernon.
Eric T. Fresch double dipped as the city's top administrator and as a city attorney, earning $1.64 million in 2008 and $1.2 last year. So far this year, he's earned $643,000 only as "outside legal counsel." Another official, Donal O'Callaghan, was paid $785,000 last year to do both city administrator duties and power utility management.
And that's not it. The former city attorney earned $800,000 last year and $1.04 million the year before. The City Treasurer/Finance Director earned $570,000 in 2009. City Councilmembers receive $68,052 a year, which is one of the highest in L.A. County.
Sponsor
How many people live in Vernon? 100. The city is most devoted to business and industry and has a scandalous past. Compare that to Bell, which has a population of 38,000, many who are immigrants.
Vernon officials defended their salaries. "If people think that I am a city guy making that kind of money, they would have every right to be outraged," French told the Times. "I'm not trying to say that municipal compensation should be at the level that I'm doing. I'm saying that if you bring a guy like me in, and do transactions for several hundred million dollars, this would not be out-of-line compensation."
Ken Pulskamp, president of the City Manager's Department of the League of California Cities and city manager of Santa Clarita, L.A. County's 4th largest city, did not agree. "Typically, city managers have some expertise in some area whether that be finance or personnel or one of the other departments," he said. "Typically that is just part of being a city manager — you don't get paid extra for that type of expertise."
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
