Tulare County CAO gets 10% pay raise

Tulare County Chief Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau was awarded a roughly 10 percent pay raise on Tuesday.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors, which was initially considering a 5 percent increase, unanimously approved Rousseau’s raise after lauding his efforts in keeping the county financially sound. The salary increase is equal to an additional $17,317 a year, bringing Rousseau’s total base salary to $180,000, not including benefits, bonuses or any other compensation.

Rousseau has worked as county manager since September 2007. He received his first raise in December of 2008, when he went from earning $145,000 to $162,683, according to Human Resources Director Jeff Cardell.

Supervisor Phil Cox proposed the increase during the county’s budget hearing in September.

On Tuesday, Cox said that in looking at other CAOs’ compensation throughout the Valley, he saw “no rhyme nor reason” for not granting Rousseau the raise.

On Tuesday, Cox was the one to suggest the 10 percent raise.

“I would even consider, as I look at the other salaries, more than the 5 percent and set it at $180,000. Just a thought,” he said.

Rousseau’s classification is assigned to a salary band, which is different from salary ranges with steps in that movement within the band is based on merit.

According to Cardell, the salary band for the CAO position starts, on an annual basis, at $128,232 and goes up to $192,348.

The cost of Rousseau’s raise will be absorbed by the CAO’s department budget. The changes will be effective Oct. 21, making Rousseau the county’s top-earning employee.

Also Tuesday:

• Supervisors unanimously accepted District Attorney Phil Cline’s resignation, effective Dec. 15. The board also approved the appointment of Assistant DA Tim Ward to serve the balance of Cline’s term until Jan. 5, 2015 despite protest from one member of the public.

• In a 5-0 vote, the board approved implementing a $35 fee for indigent criminal defendants who are represented by the county Public Defender.

Contact Denise Madrid at 784-5000, Ext. 1047. Follow her on Twitter @DeniseMadrid_.