Highest paid county employees - HHSA doctors top pay list
Editor’s Note: The Recorder delivers this third installment in a week-long salary series. We’ve also launched a searchable online database for local salary information.
The highest paid people working for Tulare County are employed by the Health and Human Services Agency.
Topping the list are physicians, among them two OB-GYNs who health experts say traditionally earn high salaries.
As Medical Section Chief, OB-GYN Brian L. Acord was paid a total of $292,782.30 in 2009, including a base salary of $241,099.24. According to HHSA spokeswoman Allison Lambert, Acord’s job duties include supervising physicians in the public health department, and diagnosing and treating patients in Tulare County’s health care clinics.
He is followed closely in pay by other doctors, including OB-GYN Julia A. Ford whose pay cost taxpayers $275,130.20, Medical Director of Primary Care Henry Ow-Young who was paid $207,138.31, Primary Care Practitioner Pavel Mundl who collected $201,638.85 and Medical Section Chief of Pediatrics Side Xi who was compensated $200,915.58 in 2009.
“The reality is that although the salaries are rich for Tulare County, and are considered by some to be higher than they should be, we are not as competitive as we would like,” County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau said. “It’s important that we bring in good people.”
Rousseau himself is responsible for supervising the budgets and operational duties of each county department, which together employ more than 3,300 people. He was paid a total of $190,127.96. He also regularly makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, which is responsible for approving labor contracts and pay scales for workers, even for HHSA which is funded primarily by the state to administer public and mental health services and welfare programs.
Upon losing more than $2 million in state funding for HHSA in Fiscal Year 2009-10, the Board approved 13 layoffs in the Child Welfare Services department, simultaneously paying on average $101,8700 each to four mid-level managers in the department, as well as $101,461 to a division manager and $141,902.58 to the head manager of the department.
Child Welfare Service caseworkers make about $40,000 on average.
Rousseau said it’s important the county offer competitive pay to managers. Because in the past there has been a high rate of turnover, he sees competitive financial packages as a way to retain experienced administrators.
“It’s very difficult to provide a high level of service when you have new people coming in and going and going constantly,” he said. “We’re going to appear to have high salaries, but compared to other government employers we are probably far less than some of our neighbors. Our county residents expect it and deserve to have a certain level of service.”
Pay for other county administrators:
Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau $190,127.96
Public Defender Michael B. Sheltzer $182,383.27
Chief Probation Officer $182,382.27
Auditor Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector Rita Woodard $153,452.69
Sheriff Bill Wittman $150,655.91
Undersheriff Dahl Cleek $152,581.64
Assessor/Clerk-Recorder Gregory Hardcastle $147,622.47
Former Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Gary Kunkel $142,774.66
Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.
