City Salaries Are Shocking

May 31, 2012

The Greensboro city salary list is both shocking and upsetting. It is shocking to see how many high level city employees have received generous salary increases in the past year and upsetting to think that the City Council took money from people who are struggling to make ends meet in this economy and handed it over to people who were already being overpaid for the jobs they were doing.

In the private sector the economy is still really tough. People, through no fault of their own, are out of work or working at jobs far below the salary and status they held in 2008. Those in the private sector lucky enough to have jobs are not looking at huge raises. Many have seen either their salaries, their benefits or both reduced.

Two factors make this even more frightening. One is these salary increases came under the City Council that was considered too conservative by the voters. Three members of the council that approved this budget were sent home by the voters and replaced with far more liberal councilmembers.

Second, those same taxpayers who are paying for these big salary increases also paid over $150,000 for a salary study of city employees that found, to no one's surprise, that city employees are underpaid. So you can expect city employees in the coming year to get even bigger raises.

The raises are the result of what was sold to the City Council as a 1.5 percent merit based salary increase. That is an average of 1.5 percent increase for all 2,932 city employees. So how many employees making $30,000 a year didn't get a raise so that those at the top could get big bucks?

As usual, Coliseum Director Matt Brown tops the list of city employees at $212,332, which is the exact amount he was being paid last year and is about $47,000 more a year than his boss, interim City Manager Denise Turner Roth, who is being paid $164,728. Roth last year went by the last name Turner and was paid $121,000 as an assistant city manager. So being interim is worth about $44,000 a year. Not a bad salary increase for a temporary job.

The third name on the list is the brand new City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan, who is being paid $153,500 which you could take as a savings since last year the city attorney was Rita Danish who was being paid $173,500, even though she did not meet the minimum qualifications for her job since she was not a licensed attorney in North Carolina.

Coming in at number four is Assistant City Manager Mike Speedling at $145,000. This is one of the salaries that doesn't make any sense. Last year Speedling was being paid $117,000, so he gets a $28,000 a year raise, and everyone knows that he is going to retire soon. In this economy to give someone at the very top of the salary list that kind of raise is a problem.

The list has changed quite a bit from last year when it had City Manager Rashad Young, Deputy City Manager Bob Morgan, and Director of Water Resources Allan Williams. Young resigned to take the city manager's job in Alexandria, Virginia, and both Morgan and Williams retired.

Police Chief Ken Miller got a raise. Last year he was being paid $137,900 and this year he is being paid $144,450.

But according to this list, Jamiah Waterman got a huge raise from $85,250 last year to $135,000 this year. Waterman got the bump in salary because he was interim city attorney. It used to be that employees served as interim or acting department head for a few months at no extra pay, or if they did a good job they got a bonus. For some reason the City Council has decided to give these enormous raises to employees for taking over the reigns for a few months. You would think they would do the job for the chance to prove themselves and if they didn't, then the city could go down the ladder until it found someone with enough get up and go to try to improve themselves. These enormous raises for acting department heads are just another waste of money.

A name that is on the list that should not be is former Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Jackson, who was finally fired on May 9. That is $117,796 a year that the city was throwing away. Chris Wilson is acting Parks and Recreation Director at $85,345. If he got a huge raise to do the job it didn't make this list.

Sue Schwartz was promoted to director of housing and community development, which came with a raise from $75,700 last year to $110,000 on this year's list.

Click here for a PDF list of all Greensboro city salaries

Brown, Matt Dir Coliseum $212,332

Roth, Denise Asst City Manager $164,728

Shah-Khan, Mujeeb City Attorney $153,500

Speedling, Mike Asst City Manager $145,000

Miller, Ken Police Chief $144,450

Waterman, Jamiah Assoc Gen Counsel $135,000

Peterson-Buie, Becky Chief Deputy Gen Counsel $133,191

Grayson, Greg Fire Chief $132,423

Neerman, Sandy Dir Public Libraries $127,763

Lusk, Richard Dir Finance $126,234

Wyrick, Doug Dir Field Ops $123,923

Drew, Steven Dir Water Resources $123,769

Scott, Andy Asst City Manager $123,420

Hammond, Connie Dir HR $119,597

Jones, Darryl Chief Info Officer $118,782

Jackson, Greg Dir Parks & Recreation $117,796

Johnson, Scott Deputy Dir Coliseum $115,007

Simmons, Butch Dir Eng & Inspec $114,974

Reid, Wesley Dir Guilford Metro Comm $112,552

Davis, Larry Dir Budget & Evaluation $110,001

Schwartz, Sue Dir Hsg & Community Dev $110,000

Hofer, Christine Mgr Sr Info Technology $109,949

Druga, Marlene Mgr Sr Financial Svcs $109,710

McDowell, Kenny Mgr Sr Water Resources $107,802

Plummer, Lillian Mgr WIA Executive $106,900

Jones, Rebecca Mgr Sr HR $106,733

Williams, Michael Assoc Gen Counsel $105,956

Fischer, Adam Dir Transportation $104,463

Wade, Anthony Dir Human Relations $102,366

Maxson, Dan Mgr P&R Admin Svcs $99,045

Payne, Christopher Mgr Sr Admin Svcs $99,026

Howard, Donald Mgr Water Reclamation $98,320

Cooper, Larry Mgr Benefits $96,944

Sherman, Stephen Mgr GIS & Spec Proj $94,872

Nugent, Bobby Deputy Fire Chief $94,497

Richardson, Thomas Mgr Sys & Apps Dev $94,334

Marro, Joseph Mgr Comp & HRIS $93,825

Allen, Frederick Mgr Safety & Health $92,664

Hunter, Clarence Deputy Fire Chief $92,607

Nickles, Jane Mgr Network Services $92,123

Crotts, Dwight Asst Chief Police $91,732

Rogers, Ron Asst Chief Police $91,552

Holder, Anita Asst Chief Police $90,992

Raper, Steve Admin Database $90,373

Walker, Chris Asst Chief Police $89,967

James, Elizabeth Mgr Public Transit $89,757

Stanley, Kenny Asst Fire Chief $89,682

Nix, Alan Asst Fire Chief $89,143

Wilson, Anita Mgr Accounting $88,967

Burkholder, Alice Mgr Employment $88,825

Mabe, Michael Mgr Street Maint Ops $88,050

Canziani, Luciano Admin Sr Network Sys $87,998

Smith, Sheldon Mgr Solid Waste Col $87,890

Howell, Harry Mgr Building Maint $87,603

Kimel, Jeffrey Mgr Wtr Res Cust Svcs $86,105

Lucas, Howard Mgr Internal Audit $86,093

Blanton, Brigitte Mgr Sr Library Svcs $86,082

Blackburn, Joan Consultant HR $85,470

Wilson, Chris Mgr Parks & Maint $85,345

Roberts, Rodney Engr Sr Network Sys $85,002

Wise, Gerald Mgr Credit Union $85,000

Partrick, Ted Mgr Engineering $84,642

Scott, Don Asst Chief Police $84,411

Carruthers, Tom Assoc Gen Counsel $84,000

Clark, James Assoc Gen Counsel $84,000

Dickens, James Assoc Gen Counsel $84,000

Biffle, Gerrad Supv Telecommunications $83,958

Borchers, Michael Mgr Wtr Resources Engrng $83,925

Menshew, Jenise Supv Medical Svcs $83,878

Jones, Sandra Applications Developer Sr $83,612

Reese, Raymond Police Capt $82,640

Harvell, Bonnie Mgr Financial Reporting $82,063

Hunt, Eleazer Mgr Info Services $82,000

Langhorne, Richard Admin LAN $81,757

Meyer, Tyler Mgr Transp $81,440

Whitworth, Charles Asst Fire Chief $81,376

Lentz III, William Asst Fire Chief $81,198

Spencer, Christopher Mgr Transp Engrng $81,030

Leonard, Brian Assoc Gen Counsel $81,000

Roberts, Jeffery Mgr Treasury $80,936

Ingram, Daniel Police Capt $80,858

Wolfe, John Police Capt $80,400

Lindsay, John Fire Marshal $79,949

Cheek, Brian Police Capt $79,722

Perdue, Michael Supv Coliseum Maint $79,302

Allen, Jane Police Capt $79,145

Fletcher, Alfred Analyst Principal $79,050

Whisenant, Richard Police Capt $78,977

Clark, Alvin Supt Construction Insp $78,888

Rogers, Michael Asst Fire Chief $78,747

Williams, Stephen Mgr Forensics Svcs $78,709

James, Brian Police Capt $78,677

Hinson, James Police Capt $78,488

Bowman, Christopher Asst Fire Chief $78,450

Culler, Richard Police Capt $78,414

Staples, Bryant Asst Fire Chief $78,347

Phipps, Therron Police Capt $78,340

Thilo, Timothy Supv Maint Ops $78,048

Shumate, Darrell Mgr Construction Projects $78,034

Richey, George Police Capt $77,766

Garrison, Wanda Applications Developer Sr $77,735

Goodwin, Ronald Mgr Purchasing $77,375

Lockamy, Teresa Mgr Client and Admin Svcs $77,305

Jutte, Mary Mgr Contact Center $77,228

Smith, Jonathain Police Capt $76,973

Koontz, Patti Mgr Collections $76,876

Strachan, Vanessa Applications Developer Sr $76,828

Newkirk, Ursula Police Capt $76,824

Wallace, Terri Mgr Org Dev & Trng $76,700

McCoy, Anita Mgr Network Services $76,510

Parsons, Barry Mgr Water Supply $76,500

Baucom, James Mgr Technical Svcs $75,750

Mullinax, Joseph Engineer Sr Civil $75,680

Groome, Martha Supv Ind Waste Svcs $75,651

Sumerford, Steven Mgr Library Svcs $75,341

Phlegar, David Mgr Stormwtr Engnrng $75,270

Adcock, Kevin Consultant HR $75,250

Ballance, Gary Applications Developer $75,146

Richardson, Elizabeth City Clerk $75,037

Kallam, Ted Engineer Chief Design $75,023

Grassi, Michael Police Lt $74,213

Reeves, Carrie Engineer Sr Civil $74,189

Cranford, Joel Police Lt $73,870

Hunt, George Police Lt $73,720

Hicks, Darrell Supt Treatment Plant $73,277

Jones, Linda Coord Comm Dev Financial $73,190

Overman, Bruce Engineer Sr Civil $73,137

Spillman, Claudia Supv Engineering $73,114

Franks, Jonathan Police Lt $73,110

Torain, Gwendolyn Admin Hsg/CD Grants $73,078

Williams, Kristine Mgr Business Center $72,824

Walcutt, Wade Mgr Prog & Special Svcs $72,800

Hohn, Terry Battalion Fire Chief $72,753

White, Thomas Admin Database $72,600

Walters, Karen Police Lt $72,377

Jones, Steven Supv WIA Admin Svcs $72,257

Graves, William Police Sgt $72,243

Smith, Kathleen Coord M/WBE $72,158

Hafkemeyer, James Police Sgt $71,891

Briggs, Jon Engineer Sr Civil $71,864

Sigmon, Renae Police Lt $71,842

Thompson, Larry Police Lt $71,842

Hay, Gail Mgr Env Svcs Support $71,750

Kirkman, Michael Mgr Planning $71,715

Shoffner, John Mgr Economic Dev $71,632

Brodie, Michael Police Lt $71,552

McAdoo-Rogers, P Police Lt $71,423

Swails, Ronald Battalion Fire Chief $71,423

Steber, James Mgr Right of Way Maint $71,319

Lowdermilk, Jeffrey Police Lt $71,107

Moore, Kevin Police Lt $71,004

Braman, Susan Mgr Aquatic Center $71,000

Pitts, Timothy Battalion Fire Chief $70,965

Gladieux, Jill Police Lt $70,847

Munro, Ute Mgr Business Center $70,836

Kimmel, Jolyon Police Lt $70,721

McIntyre, Lydia Engineer Sr Civil $70,655

Galanti, Steven Mgr Planning $70,513

Smith, Donald Consult Employee Rel $70,241

Gray, Donna Mgr Community Relations $70,107

Sturm, John Police Sgt $70,002

Danielsen, Susan Police Info Officer $70,000

Deckard, Carl Mgr Coliseum Bus Office $70,000

Johnson, Roberta Mgr Assistant Treasury $70,000

Vigue, Mary Asst to City Mgr $70,000

Robinette, David Police Lt $69,823

Henley, Patrick Battalion Fire Chief $69,605

Cox, Timothy Battalion Fire Chief $69,383

Johannesen, Robert Battalion Fire Chief $69,378

Annambhotla, Nagesh Analyst ERP Business $69,338

Rankin, Norman Police Sgt $69,285

Conway, Deniece Engineer Sr Civil $69,225

Kroh, Thomas Police Lt $68,928

Swann, Tasha Admin Network Security $68,900

Koonce, Richard Police Sgt $68,827

Heard, Jonathan Police Sgt $68,678

Loy, Michael Police Sgt $68,666

Zimmerman, Steven Battalion Fire Chief $68,528

Toler, Robert Battalion Fire Chief $68,444

Eanes, Robert Battalion Fire Chief $68,374

Hinson, Michael Battalion Fire Chief $68,351

Church, Dwayne Battalion Fire Chief $68,257

Schweitzer, Matthew Admin Safety $68,150

Daniel, Mark Applications Developer Sr $68,125

Randall, Stephen Energy Mgt Engineer $68,100

Coltrane, Robert Supv Field Ops $67,993

Pettigrew, Grover Deputy Fire Marshal $67,989

Weaver, Brandan Battalion Fire Chief $67,984

Moore, James Police Sgt $67,959

Summers, Cynthia Analyst Contracts $67,948

Johnson, James Applications Developer Sr $67,938

Carter, Stephen Analyst Budget & Mgmt $67,915

Chandler, Kevin Police Sgt $67,898

Fogleman, David Engineer Civil $67,823

Brown, Karen Analyst ERP Business $67,800

King, Melinda Engineer Utility Design $67,741

Jackson, Aggie Supt Athletics $67,643

Brady, Cheryl Police Sgt $67,595

Williams, Elijah Engineer Utility Design $67,500

Craven, Valarie Police Sgt $67,471

Blaylock, Charles Police Sgt $67,445

Harris, Barbara Mgr Planning $67,438

Sovich, Jeffrey Planner Senior $67,438

Ryals, John Police Sgt $67,338

Stephens, Gerald Police Sgt $67,335

Young, Gregory Police Sgt $67,248

Gerald, Brent Battalion Fire Chief $67,077

Buser, Patricia Police Sgt $67,004

Bello, Rachel Admin Emerg Comm Sys $67,000

Pitts, Lisa Admin Graphics Svs $66,954

Edwards, Daniel Battalion Fire Chief $66,556

Schettino, Michael Police Sgt $66,542

Sizemore, Timothy Police Sgt $66,501

Ortega, David Engineer Civil $66,500

Stephenson, Gary Engineer Civil $66,424

Bowens, Andre Police Sgt $66,416

McDonald, Robyn Police Corp $66,380

Stewart, David Police Corp $66,378

Davis, Darrin Police Sgt $66,196

Arkin, Dyan Planner Senior $66,021

Lindemeyer, Nancy Mgr Field Ops Admin $66,001

Ryals, Jeffrey Tech Comp Hware Suppt $65,960

Holsey, Darryl Supt Botanical Gardens $65,837

Pyrtle, Ricky Spec Automated Sys Ctrl $65,730

Edwards, Robert Police Corp $65,696

Hayes, Todd Applications Developer $65,569

Freeman, Christopher Applications Developer $65,564

Simpson, Michael Supt Lakes & Trails $65,533

Fife, Rick Supt Asst Bldg Maint $65,434

Deyoung, Jeffrey Police Sgt $65,398

Adams, Bruce Planner Transit $65,386

Tuttle, Anthony Battalion Fire Chief $65,293

Fiscus, Larry Police Sgt $65,210

Brown, Terrell Applications Developer $65,163

Cowhig, James Planner Senior $65,026

Hart, Carol Mgr Museum $65,000

Person, Louise Supt Recreation $64,954

Haynie Jr, Harold Capt Fire $64,935

Cross, Rickey Capt Fire $64,731

Ingle, Guy Engineer Civil $64,708

Moore, Stephanie Admin Police Fiscal Mgt $64,675

Biffle, Teresa Police Lt $64,638

Holland, Peggy Engineer Civil $64,592

Blue, Cynthia Planner Senior $64,565

Hollis, Arthur Police Sgt $64,517

Holder, Leslie Police Lt $64,481

Kurr-Murphy, Mary Admin City Arts $64,351

Autry, Wendy Supv Technical Svcs $64,300

Lynch, Otis Capt Fire $64,257

Hussey, Steven Police Sgt $64,200

Falls, Patrick Supv Maint Ops $64,138

Idowu, Adegbenga Engineer Civil $63,991

Smith, Lisa Supv Sr Emerg Comm $63,990

Oakley, Clifford Capt Fire $63,982

Mullane, Constance Supv P&R Environ Ed $63,947

Whittington, Richard Coord Emerg Comm Proj $63,858

Shandor, Marie Supv Laboratory $63,830

Brande, Randall Capt Fire $63,813

Hall, Steven Police Officer Master $63,702

Addertion, William Capt Fire $63,693

Laszlo, Daniel Battalion Fire Chief $63,680

Hood, David Capt Fire $63,660

Simmons, Michael Capt Fire $63,646

Smith, Brad Capt Fire $63,646

Campbell Jr, James Capt Fire $63,595

Gaulden, Stephen Capt Fire $63,585

Lee, Howard Coord Const Projects $63,560

Long, Thomas Police Sgt $63,473

Millikan, William Supt Fire Equip Maint $63,445

Arnold, Gary Capt Fire $63,418

Wood, Joel Capt Fire $63,364

Crow, Frank Capt Fire $63,292

McCray, Ednasha Mgr P & R Planning $63,284

Davis, Brett Police Sgt $63,266

Rowland, Harry Police Officer Master $63,263

Cheatham, Lewis Supervisor Elec Process $63,250

Ridgill, Marc Police Officer Master $63,241

Naquin, Gavin Police Officer Master $63,225

Falls, Randal Police Officer Master $63,211

Wilson, Gary Capt Fire $63,195

Reid, David Capt Fire $63,187

Bald, Robert Engineer Civil $63,153

Smith, Robert Capt Fire $63,023

Henderson, David Capt Fire $63,020

Crotts, Susan Mgr Central Contrac Div $63,000

Vanness, Emmett Capt Fire $62,949

Craddock, April Web Architect $62,903

McMasters, Larry Capt Fire $62,701

Woody, Sidney Capt Fire $62,603

DeBerry, Lacy Consult Emp Relations $62,600

Cook, Lemuel Capt Fire $62,413

Maul, Michael Police Officer Master $62,285

Langholz, Steven Police Officer Master $62,263

Kelly, Scott Police Sgt $62,240

Johnson, Mickey Capt Fire $62,152

Chester, Mark Mgr Asst Wtr Cust Svcs $62,102

Tipton, Noland Engineer Civil $61,972

Brown, Curtis Capt Fire $61,897

McHenry, Alan Police Sgt $61,897

Smoot, Brian Police Officer Master $61,787

Kozuch, Anthony Coord Const Projects $61,679

Courts, Darrell Capt Fire $61,677

Robinson, Graham Battalion Fire Chief $61,661

Inscore, Brandon Applications Developer $61,620

Edwards, Richard Police Sgt $61,562

Stewart, Bruce Capt Fire $61,526

Neal, Melanie Mgr Emerg Comm Admin $61,500

Boateng, Frederick Planner Senior $61,490

Rakes, Michael Police Sgt $61,468

Crabtree, Charlie Capt Fire $61,460

Gill, Henry Police Sgt $61,433

Barnes, Shon Police Lt $61,425

Thompson, John Police Lt $61,425

Shoemaker, Brian Supv Constr & Maint $61,323

Hallinan, Anthony Police Officer Master $61,322

Vincent, Ranis Supv Construction Insp $61,305

Gaines, David Police Sgt $61,241

Boswell, Christa Applications Developer $61,228

Davis, Nathaniel Police Sgt $61,157

Trexler, Michael Capt Fire $61,128

Raynard, Edward Specialist Env Compl $61,099

Allen, Ellis Police Sgt $61,077

McDonald, Paul Police Corp $61,065

Ricketts, Alexander Police Sgt $60,969

Cuthbertson, Ernest Police Sgt $60,962

Heard, Keith Capt Fire $60,950

Harney, Dell Tech Elec Processes $60,920

Gunter, Jerry Mgr Asst Equip Svcs $60,913

Case, Darren Supv Field Ops $60,886

Thore, Laurie Coord Mktg $60,871

Canter, Gary Police Officer Master $60,857

Branson, Steven Supt. Regional Parks $60,737

Wilde, Amy Exam Latent Fingerprint $60,609

Redfearn, Wayne Police Sgt $60,594

Summers, Hugh Police Corp $60,584

Dodd, Brian Police Corp $60,559

Moore, James Tech Elec Processes $60,553

Khan, Ali Supt Treatment Plant $60,550

Gardner, Gregory Police Sgt $60,453

Rowland, Michael Police Sgt $60,440

Uehlein, Patrick Police Sgt $60,419

Williams, Jerome Coord Const Projects $60,300

Gladieux, Sean Police Sgt $60,293

Scott, Terry Police Corp $60,259

Hurt, Judith Mgr Asst Credit Union $60,255

Carroll, Kenneth Supv Technical Review $60,253

Caviness, Jennifer Mgr Youth Services $60,130

Hewlett, Craig Police Sgt $60,125

Webb, Donald Police Sgt $60,099

Blue, Philip Capt Fire $60,051

Smith, Patrick Supt Utilities Maint $60,031

Gibbs, Timothy Capt Fire $60,029

Brown, Terence Police Sgt $60,025

Tucker, John Police Officer Master $60,011

Bartolomeo, Charles Supv Forensics $60,001