Records show Ann Arbor city employees making tens of thousands of dollars in extra pay
Related story: Ann Arbor employees who made at least $10K more than their base salaries last year
David Monroe made $126,247 in wages last year as a detective in the Ann Arbor Police Department, about $44,000 beyond his base salary.
In addition to his regular pay, which included more than $20,000 in paid time off and sick pay, Monroe collected $39,327 in overtime and $2,134 in various allowances.
Bill Stanford, another detective in the police department, and Rodney Whitehead, one of the department's senior officers, both made more than $112,000 last year.
In Stanford's case, that's nearly $32,000 more than his base salary, and it's nearly $38,000 more than Whitehead's base salary.
Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard boosted his pay by tens of thousands of dollars in 2011 by cashing in unused comp time, which he built up over many years and couldn't roll over when he became chief last June.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
They aren't anomalous for their extra earnings, though.
Dozens of other city employees — including many firefighters and police officers — are making significantly more money than their published base salaries would suggest, according to an analysis of city records obtained by AnnArbor.com under the Freedom of Information Act.
When factoring in overtime, comp time payouts, bonuses and other cash perks like food and vehicle allowances, city employees sometimes are making tens of thousands of dollars extra per year.
Overtime is a big factor. City employees racked up more than $3.3 million in OT last year. That compares to $2.5 million in 2010 and $2.6 million in 2009.
As the city has scaled back its work force — once above 1,000 employees and now under 700 — many of those left on the job are working extra hours.
"That is a connection you could make with certain or specific parts of our organization," said City Administrator Steve Powers, who acknowledged that's the case with police.
Powers said the city has taken the approach in some departments that paying extra overtime simply makes more sense than hiring additional employees. But when possible, he said, the city has adjusted work schedules to reduce overtime costs.
"Certainly we monitor overtime use," Powers said. "But overtime can be more cost-effective than adding personnel."
Based on city payroll records for 652 full-time employees, AnnArbor.com was able to identify at least 186 — more than a quarter — were paid at least $10,000 more than their listed base salaries last year. That includes 37 employees who saw gains of $20,000 or more, and that's not counting employees who retired last year and saw even larger payouts.
In all, the city paid out nearly $55 million in wages in 2011, and 48 employees made six figures when factoring in all forms of pay, according to AnnArbor.com's analysis. Another 63 employees made at least $90,000 but just shy of six figures.
Going into overtime
More than $1.4 million in overtime last year — including $580,260 in double OT — was paid out in the police department, which averages out to nearly $8,500 per employee.
It's been estimated in the past that the city spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in overtime having officers appear in court.
"Overtime can be incurred for a variety of reasons," said John Seto, interim police chief. "It could be for staffing needs or court appearances or any type of significant criminal activity that might create some overtime, and also special contracted or grant-funded events."
A total of $375,530 in overtime was paid out in the fire department, which averages out to nearly $5,000 per firefighter. Counting other wages, more than 50 fire department employees made at least $10,000 more than their base salaries last year.
More than $1.4 million in overtime last year — including $580,260 in double OT — was paid out in the police department, which averages out to nearly $8,500 per employee.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
About $250,000 of the city's total overtime bill for 2011 was reported as cashed-in comp time, while another $422,000-plus in comp time was actually used.
One example of a large overtime payout last year involved Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard, who pulled in $157,871 in total wages after cashing in tens of thousands of dollars in unused comp time built up over several years.
Hubbard, who was named Ann Arbor's new fire chief halfway through the year, previously made $83,539 as assistant chief. He now has a base salary of $115,000.
Hubbard couldn't carry over his comp time when he became chief last June and left the firefighters union. Payroll records show he collected $48,223 in overtime, plus $3,248 in food, vehicle, cell phone and equipment allowances.
In all, the city paid out nearly $720,000 in various allowances to city employees last year, including $241,000 for uniforms, $137,531 for cell phones, $68,650 for vehicles, $99,560 for equipment and $81,864 for food. Longevity pay totaled $332,263.
The city also footed the bill for nearly $1.8 million worth of sick pay, and an extra $822,834 was paid out to employees for working in a higher class.
The Ann Arbor City Council is expected to vote Monday night on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes $382 million in spending and $405 million in revenue.
About 28 percent of the city's entire budget this year — without counting internal service funds — was budgeted to be spent on personnel costs, including wages and benefits.
"We allow each department to manage their resources in the most optimal way for themselves, so in one circumstance someone might say overtime is the most appropriate way to deal with a situation," he said. "We allow the managers flexibility."
AnnArbor.com requested a copy of the police department's overtime policy and received a memo issued by former Police Chief Barnett Jones effective July 2009. The policy leaves it up to department supervisors to determine when OT is appropriate.
Other city policies on overtime and comp time are written into the negotiated labor agreements for each city bargaining unit.
Ann Arbor police officers said they work hard for the extra money showing up in their paychecks.
One officer who spoke with AnnArbor.com said police are working a lot of extra overtime due to the elimination of dozens of jobs in their department in recent years.
"In the police department, we continue to manage our overtime," said Seto, who doesn't think it has reached a problem level. "But as we work through getting our staffing to authorized levels, all of our personnel are working very hard to maintain services."
Seto noted the city is looking to hire some new officers soon. The city swore in five new full-time officers just recently and is sifting through hundreds of applications as it prepares to hire another six full-time officers and five part-time officers by July 1.
City officials said they hope that helps curtail overtime costs.
Mayor John Hieftje said he relies on the city's staff to watch the numbers and determine where it makes sense to hire more employees instead of paying overtime.
If the numbers worked out, he said, "I would look very favorably on a recommendation from the administration to hire more people to avoid overtime costs."
The city of Livonia, with a payroll of more than $40 million and 528 full-time employees, paid out $2 million in overtime last year, according to the city's finance director.
Grand Rapids, with more than 1,400 full-time employees and a payroll of more than $97 million, paid out nearly $4.3 million in overtime last year, a city official there said.
Big pay for retirees
AnnArbor.com's analysis of city payroll records shows some of the biggest wage gainers in Ann Arbor were actually employees on their way out the door.
A number of employees who retired last year were able to boost their wages significantly, and that may have helped increase the size of their pensions in some cases.
Lt. Mark St. Amour, who retired as head of the police department's detective division in December, earned $113,133 in wages last year. His base salary was $88,982.
St. Amour collected $91,621 in regular pay, including more than $22,000 in paid time off, plus $3,032 in allowances and $18,480 in overtime and cashed-in comp time.
Roger Fraser, who resigned as city administrator last April, pulled in $118,056 in wages while working less than a third of the year. His base salary was $145,355.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Scott Robertson, who retired as a fire lieutenant last July, made $100,821 in wages in half a year. His base salary was $68,078.
Robertson collected $42,817 in regular pay, $1,656 in allowances, $8,062 in overtime and $48,286 in severance pay. He now has a pension worth $60,554 a year.
Michael Masten, who retired as the fire department's master mechanic last June, made $207,701 in six months last year, making him the highest-paid employee in the city.
His base salary was $74,162.
Masten collected $38,437 in regular pay, $1,949 in allowances, $7,491 in overtime and cashed-in comp time, and $159,824 in severance pay.
He now has a pension worth $41,467 a year.
Ed Dziubinski, who was eligible for overtime as assistant fire chief, collected $195,631 in wages last year before retiring in mid-November. His base salary was $82,322.
Dziubinski collected $75,797 in regular pay, including more than $17,000 in paid time off and sick pay, plus $8,309 in allowances, $10,325 in overtime and cashed-in comp time, and $101,201 in severance pay. He now has a pension worth $32,223 a year.
Greg Hollingsworth, another assistant fire chief for the city, made $107,627 in wages before retiring Feb. 21 last year. His base salary was $83,539.
Hollingsworth collected $15,149 in regular pay, $1,622 in allowances, $393 in overtime and $90,463 in severance pay. He now has a pension worth $70,212 a year.
Douglas Warsinski, an inspector for the fire department, pulled in $133,163 in wages before retiring July 5 last year. His base salary was $70,710.
Warsinski collected $40,923 in regular pay, $2,131 in allowances, $11,931 in overtime and cashed-in comp time, and $78,808 in severance pay.
He now has a pension worth $37,016 a year.
Roger Fraser, who resigned as city administrator last April, pulled in $118,056 in wages while working less than a third of the year. His base salary was $145,355.
Fraser collected $55,906 in regular pay, including more than $6,700 in paid time off in four months, plus $2,680 in allowances and $59,470 in severance pay.
He now has a pension worth $38,061 a year.
Sue McCormick, who resigned as the city's public services administrator in December to take a job in Detroit, made $176,774 in wages in 2011. Her base salary was $135,600.
Sue McCormick, who resigned as the city's public services administrator in December to take a job in Detroit, made $176,774 in wages in 2011.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
She now has a pension worth $33,741 a year.
Gerry Dann, who retired as a civil engineering specialist for the city last May, earned $105,743 in wages last year. His base salary was $67,392.
Dann collected $30,861 in regular pay, $570 in allowances, $1,584 in overtime and cashed-in comp time, and $47,570 in severance pay.
He made another $25,159 in temporary pay after he was brought back on as a contract employee three days after he retired. He now has a pension worth $59,997 a year.
In all, the city paid out more than $2.3 million in severance pay in 2011. It's unclear from the records obtained by AnnArbor.com how many employees shared in those payments.
Asked to explain the large severance packages paid out to some employees, several top city officials said they didn't know the details but it has to do with union contracts.
"The individuals who are in bargaining units are subject to those contracts and, in some cases, that would be whatever is in that contract," Crawford said.
"Everything in the fire department is determined by contract," Hieftje said. "We've made some progress with the contract we have now, but there's still more progress to be made."
Powers said there are examples of employees who retired from the city and rarely took sick leave and made themselves available for overtime during the course of a career that spanned 30-plus years, and the city pays employees their earned time upon retirement.
He noted earned time or severance pay cannot be included to calculate the pensions for employees hired since 1982.
"How much earned time is paid to an employee upon his or her retirement is defined in each collective bargaining agreement," Powers added.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Jay Thomas
Tue, May 22, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.
Whatever. Everyone knows that the place to work these days is in government.
Noneofyabusyness
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
How did this info come about anyways? Hmmm? Imagine what you don't know about the money that is orchestrated into their pockets. Seems like someone calculated this: less cops -> more crime = job security. Which eventually leads to manipulation of how the city governs itself and the taxpayers money (along with a bunch of behind the scenes deals between city officials, corporations, and our lovely government).
Noneofyabusyness
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
Ha! My last comment got removed. Wonder why? Seems like a little media manipulation to me. (Probably that cop columnist) Cmon' let be serious these people who run the government and police in the city don't work hard. This was all planned out, less employees and more pay. And if you can't see how obvious the truth is in this city than apparently you don't drive a car or have eyesight. This little town wants to be a big corrupt city, and works just like one. The only people who work hard nowadays are the broke ones.
speerhawk
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
It is not extra pay it is Overtime pay slightly misleading. Also it is chaper to work your current employees overtime than it is hiring another employee. You hire another employee your paying double plus benefits. You work your current employees overtime it only costs you 50 percent xtra. So why are they making this sound like frivilous spending?
Phew!
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 6:56 a.m.
It is misleading in that the extra pay is repeatedly referred to as "overtime pay" when some of it is actually comp and vacation time paid out. In any of the cases the person is working EXTRA hours. Comp time actually saves the city money since the employee is not getting overtime pay. In these articles these various pays are being lumped together, and the word "overtime" being used manipulatively.
Tony Livingston
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
Unfortunately, my experience with city council reveals that they absolutely do not want to rock the boat with city hall. We are stuck because they are the only ones who can push for changes. This whole retirement pay problem has been going on for many years. Jane Lumm's proposal to switch to a 401K system would help to solve it. We will see if it goes anywhere.
Dog Guy
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 5:04 a.m.
Why are so many people fussing as if it were THEIR OWN money involved?
Phew!
Wed, May 23, 2012 : 6:51 a.m.
Because it is.
A2Hallie
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 4:38 a.m.
Recently interviewed for a temporary admin asst job with the fire department. They said the job MIGHT go permanent BUT they hire you for nine months then lay you off and then rehire you as a temp for another nine. What a bunch of bs.
Hk kid
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
It's funny that everybody wants to complain about the over time paid out for services in the city, yet when something goes hay wire the phones never stop ringing from all the complaints of the tax payers. SOMEBODY has to fix the problem. That somebody is me once in awhile, I'm the one that gives up my holidays, and weekends, and afternnon and midnights in addition to working a reguler 40 hr week to fix the problems of which the tax payers are calling about. Am I going to do this for no pay? Would you? Some how I don't think so.
Phew!
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:27 a.m.
What is ridiculous is so many hard working men and women having to defend the work that they do to get paid about enough to manage a house and family in Ann Arbor. Those in the middle pay range here. Those in the top pay range here might even have cable TV, a good internet connection, a newer car, a house big enough for their family to live comfortably and some time to spend together on vacation. Those in the lower pay range here are just barely making enough to house, feed and educate a family with very few extras. Yet they are all having to defend the work they do - especially the EXTRA work that they do - that allows them to get this very little bit ahead. Defend themselves against their brothers, sisters, neighbors....who are for the most part in the same boat. Divide and conquer, I guess.
mixmaster
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
Divide and conquer is a stated tactic of the Tea Partiers.
Phew!
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
I can't help but think those who make the real money are reading this and laughing at all of us fighting each other for crumbs.
Casey
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
You cannot ask someone not to drive drunk at 11:35 because you are supposed to leave at midnight. You can't politely request that no domestic violence occur between the hours of 11 and 12 because you won't have enough time to sort out the shenanigans and drive someone to jail all before you start accruing overtime. You cannot expect police officers not to work overtime anymore than you can expect criminals to adhere to ridiculous requests. if it is such a hot job with crazy benefits and over time pay you do it! Wcc offers an academy every semester. Ann Arbor is hiring! None of you will do it because the job is hard, the hours are horrible for anyone without 12 to15 years in. You work weekends. You miss holidays. If you have kids in school you sometimes don't see them for five out of seven days. Just about the only thing anyone could possibly be jealous of are the benefits. The police and their families sacrifice so much. The pay is not the reason to do the job. Back off and stop being ridiculous about the one thing that makes the job even remotely doable, the benefits.
Radar
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
Salaried employees have no business getting overtime pay. This is almost unheard of in the private sector. But like they say, Ann Arbor is 10 square miles surrounded by reality.
GoNavy
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
Even these figures don't represent the total compensation packages awarded to these individuals. It's totally ludicrous -
u812
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
how bout some of that fine Detroit policing.
u812
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 1:04 a.m.
I believe you are overpaid at your job I'm I correct?
Diane
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:18 p.m.
AND, they earn every penny of it! Overtime you bet. Work all night get a little sleep, show up for a court case, go home to a family dinner, then back to work to keep you sorry a - - - - safe.
GoNavy
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
Don't forget the time spent manning the speed traps on Main street, and busting drunk 19-year-olds.
sh1
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
Some people won't be happy until all jobs are privatized and doled out to the lowest bidders.
GoNavy
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
That, or total compensation is published so that we know exactly what we're getting for OUR (taxpayer) money. Or, did you forget that these individuals work for us?
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
then watch the economy crumble worse then any Depression of the past.
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
Or maybe officers were laid off so other officials could collect more OT hours....we as the people should ask for the Fbi to investigate our City Leaders 1800CALLFBI(225 5324) With enough tax payers dollars calling they will investigare I work hard to just eat.........why should someone eat out on my dollar
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.
You say Potatoe and I Potato.
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
@812 this is corruption No one is questioning their work ethic........and yes if this kind of abuse of my hard earned Tax Dollar.........I will move out of Ann Arbor
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10 p.m.
Move out of Ann Arbor you don't like it, also the police do a JOB not sit in your driveway everyday and pick-up there check from you.
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
Makes sense now, Ann Arbor was so busy stuffing their pockets ............Washtenaw County Sheriffs got the short end of the stick..............Does anyone know if they have been paid for their services?
actionjackson
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.
Rarely have I had the necessity of emergency personnel. Should I be in an auto accident or my need for a detective should I just wait around for shift change? My thanks to all of you that provide emergency services for all of us.
David Cahill
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
Where did the eight-hour day come from? It's not arbitrary. Studies by both management and labor several decades ago showed that employee efficiency drops dramatically after eight hours. My source is an article in the NY Times within the past few weeks. I would rather have more employees at their best than fewer employees dragging around because they're tired. Especially police and fire.
UM Emeritus
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
Is there no oversight? This is beyond shame and the buck stops on the mayor's desk.
EyeHeartA2
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
1. Severence pay? When you QUIT!! NO NO NO. you MAYBE get this if you get fired in the "real world". 2. "If only we were staffed properly, we wouldn't need OT?" NO NO NO - when we were staffed we still had the OT. 3. Departments get to DECIDE what thier OT should be? NO NO NO - they should have a BUDGET, that needs to be met, or the manager gets a poor performance review, bad raise and maybe fired, like in the "real world". To bad the AA government is playing with my money - and seems to think they have a bottomless pit. Maybe someday AA government will get with the "real world"?
Petesfunhouse
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:57 p.m.
Thank you for finally breaking a real story. This has been going on for far too long and the hypocrisy of not just the city employees but all federally employed individuals needs to be addressed. They get benefits that the rest of us can only dream about. A number of these employees are against any government sponsored health care (Obamacare, MittCare, etc) or any public funded assistance. It is all too ironic that they get a guaranteed pension and healthcare for life, not just for themselves but their spouse. Take these benefits away and you will see "real" reform.
Hk kid
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 4:29 a.m.
Like what? I get 40 hrs of sick time a year and 40 hrs of vacation time a year, I pay my share of health care, and have given up all of my holidays alot of weekends, midnights, and afternoons for what we consider a normal work week. Are you willing to do that. Matbe you apply for a job if you think it's all an easy ride.
nowayjose
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
Breaking a real story? They put this article out every year with city employee salaries so people who gave lower paying jobs can call for their heads. It's just a2.coms way of stiring the the pot. This same story will be here next year too.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
Move out of Ann Arbor if you Don't like it,Who is there to support your place of work if we all make $8 dollars an hour and pay more taxes so business can get richer!
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
Coveting is sin according to the 10 Commandments
Joe_Citizen
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:52 p.m.
Who's to blame, and who's butt is getting caned for this? I doubt anyone. this is business as usual in city dept's
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
We as the people need to stand!
Greg
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
Sadly the results you get when you request for salaries using the freedom of information act for our state universitiesand university hospitals do not even give you a correct number. Between the pay from the medical school and bonuses from "other" sources, you never see the total. Seems the system is rigged that way for a reason. Wouldn't want the voters actually seeing what professors, administrators and doctors are actually being paid.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.
Super Huge sums of Money and they don't show up and teach!!!
Steffetta
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
The headline in the actual newspaper for this article was MILKING OVERTIME. What a bunch of sensationalist crap. After giving names and eye-catching numbers for a few paragraphs, this shows up: "As the city has scaled back its work force — once above 1,000 employees and now under 700 — many of those left on the job are working extra hours" And then back to the big numbers. Sigh. People work overtime when their job calls for it.. that is hardly milking. Also, like it or not, there are perks to every job, sick time, vacation time, etc. Calling out people by name and then giving their numbers to make them look like crooks is unethical. I don't watch the local or network news because I hate this sensationalist quasi-news garbage. If you don't like the city's perks, fine.. tell the city about it, but don't string up those who are benefiting from the system legally and within their rights. What sensationalist garbage!
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
Very True! If you want to have higher taxes and less services move to Detroit.
Ron Granger
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
When is someone going to investigate the use of city credit cards, city gas cards, gasoline, taking city vehicles home and on personal trips, etc?
Carl
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
The June 2011 audit had this finding on the very last page, 162. Has it been fixed? http://michigan.gov/documents/treasury/812010AnnArborCity20111216_371879_7.pdf 2010-1 USE OF CITY PURCHASING CARDS Condition: During our analysis of internal controls over the purchasing card process in 2010 we noted that several transactions sampled contained no purchasing card statement listing the details of transactions that occurred during the month. The receipts detailing the purchases and the appropriate business purpose pertaining to these statements were also missing. Credit card payments are made by the City on a monthly basis so the City had paid for these transactions without valid review of the statement or any supporting receipts to authorize the purchase and determine that there was a business purpose for the transaction.
k2a2mi
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
Maybe the Govenor's Office should investigate. HA!
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
The City Attorneys office abuses all of the above!
Stan Hyne
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
Maybe retirement pay should be calculated on base pay as it is in most industry, not on the last year where every possible item is included as the determining compensation figure.
SW40
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
aanonliberal makes a great point, much of the overtime is paid for by other entities. Not all of the over time but a lot of it comes from UofM (football games) area festivals, art fair, hashbash etc... Just to be fair and so everyone understands most police departments went away from many of the practices that AAPD continues like allowing officers to build giant vacation banks or comp banks and then taking pay outs. Many Police departments force their employees to use their vacation time because studies show that people need time off of work for mental health and physical health. AAPD has an extemely strong union and it is that union that refuses to move into the 21st century even refusing to renegotiate to save their brother and sister officers from layoffs. Notice the fire department wasn't and cruel (as a cop it pains me to admit police officers will almost always choose their pay and benefits over saving their brother/sisters from layoff the fire department has always been more compassionate. AAPD needs to stop allowing time off banks to cary over, stop promoting officers off the road so that their are now more supervisors at AAPD then officers, stop compaining about not having enough employees when it is obviously an issue with assignments and not staffing. if you have 120 officers and can't have more then 6 officers on at a time that isn't a problem with staffin it is a problem with too lazy butts behind desks.
SW40
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:36 p.m.
Actually, I do know what I'm talking about they are at 112 because of recent retirements and they will soon be back to over 120. Just because their comp and vacation bank is capped doesn't mean they max out in one year which they do not. They are capable of carrying hundreds of hours in each bank so that when they leave they do still get a giant payout, it just isn't unlimited. Secondly just because there isn't that many sgts and Lts assigned to road patrol doesnt mean there isn't sgts and lts assigned to other positions. If you take 112 and subtract 56 that is half of the department assigned to road patrol (officers) most departments it is usually 70 percent not 50 percent. Many times it is as high as 90 percent road patrol. Next they have 18 road patrol sgts, they also have administrative sgts, detective sgts, lieutenants assigned to admin positionts etc.... If you look at other departments of similiar size you will see that AAPD doesn't adequately staff road patrol versus other non-important functions. When the department had 200 officers they could afford so many cushy supervisor positions, now they need to get the guys back on the street. This isn't a secret, ask any of the AAPD guys and they will tell you the samething. If you reassign administrative positions to road patrol then visibility will be up and you can even get a few more cops walking a beat downtonw like most AA citizens want.
aanonliberal
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
Sw40 u do realize that ALL banks are capped at a certain level. How about 112 officers working 24/7 only 18 of those are Sgt and Lt. So you really dont know what you are talking about with too many supervisors. That is why you see Sgt and Lt on that list. And as far as desk jobs there are only 2 desk jobs that are not detectives. So again you are wrong.
nowayjose
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
Oh and there isn't 120 officers. There is less than that
nowayjose
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
If you are a cop then you know their comp and vacation is capped and must be used or lost by the end of the year. You do know that right? Sounds to me like you are just spouting off and have no basis for your rant
Scout Finch
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.
Ever since City Administrator Neil Berlin got things started....Ann Arbor City government has been a gravy train.
aanonliberal
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.
That overtime is based on too few cops and policing needs around the city. Alot of which is laid for by organizers. Think of all thw runs, festivals, Art Fair, football games (both high school and u of m). That ask for police and they pay the freight. Annarbor.com needs to publish how much police get reimbursed for these activities and how much OT was related to those type of events
a2cents
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
So a massive, heartless institution decides to draw all kinds of lowlifes into town for an event and demands assistance for traffic control and emergency services. Their remuneration for same would show up as overtime, right?
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
In the eyes of God, coveting is a sin and there's a whole lot of coveting going on here.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:51 p.m.
OH ya it's the new american way, can't curtail the Rich, so lets curtail our neighbor.
a2cents
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
How much o.t. was due to university events, reimbursed or not?
racerx
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
"Mayor John Hieftje said he relies on the city's staff to watch the numbers and determine where it makes sense to hire more employees instead of paying overtime." Did he really say this? This from the same person who has cut both police and fire depts the past few years saying that all of the personnel weren't needed? Really? Is he a Democrat? For he speaks from both sides of his mouth that he really should be a Republican! Will this comment be deleted? Was it that harsh? Who is holding this guy accountable for his lack of leadership. But, as the saying goes, life is like a dog sled race. If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes.
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
The mayor is to busy eating pizza in the park.........I cant beleive what our goverment officials have done to rape the hard working tax payers of Ann Arbor!
eagleman
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
Are you kidding? Both parties speak out of both sides of their mouth.I think you need a refresher on American politics, son.
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:03 p.m.
What an inflammatory headline. Yet another disgusting display of "journalism" by our local "news" outlet. And that is what annarbordotcom is, an outlet.
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
So is a sewer pipe.
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
If the suit fits.......wear it!
eagleman
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
Every media organization is an outlet.
Robert Granville
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
I can't stand the viewpoint that defense, military and/or police spending cannot be cut and should not be considered simply because the people involved protect our lives. We need efficiency... or we're dead in the water anyway.
Patti Smith
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
Me too, Mike K! We should have bingo for every time words like "overpaid" "union" "no more taxes", etc. come up. Bonus points for someone who somehow ties this article into a slam on teachers' unions. Double secret bonus points if you can tie it into an anti-abortion rant.
Mike K
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
You can save the anti abortion rhetoric for another day, but yes "bonus points" for those who are satisfied that new teachers will have a 401k retirement fund instead of a cost prohibative pension. You would find comfort in the comment section for that article.
solarE
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
Interesting. A city where government employees are paid in line or above the requirements of labor law as a result of working overtime, with many of the positions providing overtime and 'generous' benefits. I quote generous with a sincere amount of sarcasm, as the benefits listed are right in line with the private sector for senior positions. Of which, many jobs paid to equivalency in the private sector are not life threatening and do not induce the degree of stress. As an example, as someone who works a senior position in the private sector and has never had to deal with seeing what (again, an example) a senior detective has seen, I'm fairly qualified to make that statement. If the citizens of Ann Arbor want to continue having a government which enforces everything from stopping traffic at a crosswalk, to sweeping away homeless people from downtown, to solving violent crimes, perhaps it is time for the citizens of Ann Arbor to understand there is a cost involved. This city loves government intervention. If us as citizens of Ann Arbor want to have a government which holds every individuals hand on how to live, and keeps basic government services functioning such as crime prevention and maintenance, we're going to pay for it. What is truly disgusting is the hypocritical view in the Ann Arbor citizens. We profess the love of big government protecting those in labor. However, when it directly affects the pocket books of us whom pay taxes with the government jobs providing results, the 'not in my backyard' mentality kicks in. It is truly sad. Perhaps that is the price Ann Arbor pays for idealism over practicality and reality.
Soothslayer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Let's see a report on all activities paid with OT expenses vs all activities on regular hours. Of course they're going to pull the heart strings to justify OT costs the City can't afford. "What are you going to do" they ask, "not have police or fire protection?" "Walk away from a shooting or accident?" A job is a job is a job. Run it like the private industry and salary them with fair benefits. Hourly is just ripe for abuse. The Unions with the hourly wage structure have the city and it's residents by the short and curly.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
Benefit and Pension Envy at it's finest.
zip the cat
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Wa Wa Wa ,complain,complain,complain.Get your facts straight before shooting off your mouth. Its a proven fact that its tons more efficent and cheaper to pay overtime than to hire more people. You want police and fire protection you have to pay for it. Being a cop or fireman is not a 40 hr a week job when you have a city council and mayor who think its hunkie dorey to blow a million $ on a urinial while cutting back on police and fire. If you don't like business as usual,vote them out,but that won't happen because all the whiners and complainers sit at home on election day.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
Great Reply! if you don't like your pay somewhere go get An EDUCATION or Training and Make more! don't be Jealous of those that did.
Mike
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Y'all just don't get it, do you? It's a game played between the ignorant citizens, the sleazy elected city council, the crafty manager, and the budget. People demand lower or no new taxes. People demand more city services, revenues fall. What's a poor city to do? Well, since labor is usually the biggest expense (until enough people retire early and push the pension fund imbalance into focus), you cut labor. Easy cut, present the new budget, loud screams, but a consensus is reached, meaning lots of layoffs. BUT you still have all the services that have to be performed. Just wait until a kitten is up a tree and the police and firemen are out on a REAL job! You get very irritated citizenry (though still just as ignorant). If people want cuts, which means layoffs, you get by on reduced services - an hour for the firetruck to get to your burning house, a day before police investigate an armed robbery and assault. You don't want to wait that long? Two choices, hire more people AND raise taxes, or let them play funny games with the budget and overtime (which was conveniently ignored in the original budget, AND comes out of a different bucket!). But to expect the same services with less people is stupidity and selfishness at its worst. And just like it goes on in government, it goes big time in business - reduce pay or layoffs for the worker, demands for more time, pocket the bigger profits and sit back. Why should city government be any different? You all run for council and see if you can do it better. Fat chance.
Heady99
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
I think we need Scott Walker to come Michigan - aren't these jobs union? Pensions? This is outrageous - all the while Ann Arborites are struggling to pay their over-the-top taxes on their property. I am struggling to understand how this continues to go on in this day and age - IS ANYONE AWAKE IN CITY HALL??? I do not see the use in unions - people this is money out of your pocket - we are the ones carrying the huge burden supporting this - CAN WE REALLY AFFORD THIS LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE? Drop the unions - pay a fair wage - hire more people - LET'S GET FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. How many more people are going to lose their homes because they are on fixed incomes and cannot afford their taxes!
Soothslayer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.
3 words will fix Michigan: Right To Work
xmo
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
How long can we (Taxpayers) support retirees who now contribute nothing to the city? The same is true for retirees from other companies but Government seems to have the sweetest retirement plans of anybody!
Scout Finch
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:33 p.m.
Spam...that's true some of the time..... But when an employee makes 50%, 60%, 70% f their base salary after putting in a few years (see, City Administrators Neil Berlin, Roger Fraser and others), that's not really in the spirit of a pension. Especially when Berlin negotiated the very contract that allowed him to retire in beautiful Colorado after five years of service. That's a pension run amok!
SpamBot1
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Retirees contributed while they worked. That is how it works. If you want a sweet government job, apply for one. By the comments here, it sounds like an easy job.
shepard145
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
I smell Pulitzer Prize here!! This Watergate like story of men doing their jobs within the terms of their contracts and getting paid more then some other men who didn't work as much! We should also the bedazzled "Occupiers" to find some markers and squeeze this onto their misspelled, tattered signs - "down with the public safety law enforcement pending extra time protecting the community and investigating crime!!" ...and it would have worked if it wasn't for your darned reporters!
YpsiVeteran
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 5:35 a.m.
Soothslayer, they have plenty of incentive to reduce costs. Unfortunately, the law doesn't allow them to forward 911 calls to a recorder if the calls come in when the Dept. has sent its remaining staff home to avoid OT. New rule: All emergencies must be between the hours of 8a and 5p, or 10p and 7a. Before/after that, please leave a message. You make a list of all the people who agree to put their emergencies off if responding to same will incur OT. I'm sure your name will be first on the list, right? Also, you'll be ok with it when the officers who arrested the guy who robbed you don't come to court and he gets released, right? They happened to be on nights last night, and court today will be OT for them. Sorry. It's obvious these are trumped up activities designed purely to generate OT, and that police departments have no incentive to save money.
Soothslayer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Stop trying to "stick it to the man"... it's us, the taxpayer. Prove to us how OT isn't getting abused and we'll look the other way. What incentive does any department have to curtail OT? It's not their money, it's the taxpayers. They have no incentive to reduce costs at all. More layoffs mean an automatic blank check on more OT pay for the ones that stay? No.
ranger007
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
Wow..people get paid to quit ...im sorry "resign"...are they hiring?
Huron74
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Has Ann Arbor city government become a pay and benefits machine for employees that only provides services if they have any cash left over? It sure looks that way. Sheesh. Every time the Tea Party or some other group or individual complains about high taxes and wasteful spending out come the usual suspects who start complaining about "rethuglikkkans" wanting people to starve, work until they drop dead, while their houses burns. You'd think that spell would wear off when their tax bills arrive. Sadly the thoroughly cowed sheep instead go on to elect and re-elect the same old crew of tax and spend types (Dems) and the game continues.
Mike K
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
I thought there would be two clear but opposite points of view on this. One is that this OT, however necessary, is a drain on the tax resources we citizen all provide, and that there is a lost opportunity for services / benefits for all of us somewhere else (e.g. education, improved traffic flow, improved landscaping on our roads so they don't look horrible, improved landscaping at our Rec and Ed fields so that a kicked soccer ball actually rolls......) Two is that this is good as generous public union jobs build a strong middle class by diverting the resources provided from many to a select few. I am surprised that the area liberals haven't come out in favor of "two" yet.
snoopdog
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
This is outrageous folks, how stupid can we be. Most of us are salaried with no ability to get bonus pay or overtime pay and we are expected to work 50 hours per week or more to fulfill job requirements. No one works 40 hours per week anymore, except government workers. And why on earth would salaried detectives be allowed to make overtime anyway ? Time to put all these workers on a salary , no bonus and overtime after 50 hours worked. It is time that these benefit packages start mirror-ing what the taxpayers have since the taxpayers are the ones who pay these government workers. Ann Arbor makes an "art" out of fleecing the taxpayers ! Good Day
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.
Go get a GOOD JOB as a cop it's soo easy,right!
SpamBot1
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
Employees in the private sector have no ability to get bonus pay?
huh7891
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
Most of us are salaried...uh speak for yourself. Before you go spouting off , back it up with facts. I work in the private sector and have for years.....anything over 40 hrs is overtime..time and one half. Most hourly workers are eligible for overtime..it' a law. If you are Non exempt you are eligible. Sorry you have a crappy job..update your resume and get a new job if you don't like it.
annarboral
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
If you run a business then you already know that most "overtime" is easy money that employees use to pad their income. Hey, why work hard when you can get more pay for going slow? I worked at a major automotive company that was struggling financially and they finally just eliminated overtime (with extremely rare exceptions). Note that they didn't change the job and the job still needed to get done. If the employees didn't get the job done it showed up in their performance evaluations. The city needs to change its job descriptions and simply eliminate overtime. If the employees don't like that then please go elsewhere as there are lots of qualified people lining up for your job.
Bob Katz
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
No surprises here at all. This is the way AA is run. Maybe we need to set aside more money for the green buffer to protect us from the outside world or maybe more empty parks. The differences between AA and Detroit are (1) Detroit is much less affluent and so there isn't as much to steal (2) in AA there is lots of money and it isn't stolen, just given away to the undeserving that know the system
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:02 p.m.
These people need to resign and find a new dollar, enough is enough........on your way OUT take that stupid schulpture with you!!!!!!!!
Mike K
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Empty AND poorly maintained parks. I showed my daughter that a certain parcel of land was a "park". She told me, "that's no park". She's 10. Old enough to recognize a park, but too young to understand how a city raises money.
Ron Granger
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
For a lot of cops, isn't their retirement payout set by the average of their highest grossing year, and includes overtime. That results in an incentive to rack up enormous amounts of overtime to pad the pension. Some contracts limit the amount of overtime that is counted toward the amount. Does A2? As someone who has always been salaried and has worked an enormous amount of non-compensated overtime, all without a defined benefit pension, I am jealous.
Casey
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
If you were hired in the last 30 years you cannot use any overtime pay to calculate your pension.
Ron Granger
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
u812, vast numbers of people are overtime exempt and their role does not include "telling others what to do".
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.
Salaried equals telling others what to do,much easier.
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:11 p.m.
Coveting is a sin
belboz
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
Are the people running this city not intelligent? This is ridiculous. Michigan is an "at will" employment state. How about the city start realizing this and quit with the contracts that have outrageous benefits. I'd rather pay 2 officers on the $126k salary than one detective. This is still more than many teachers make. Then, if the work gets too much for the person, fire them, and find someone else who will do the job. This pay structure that the city has created for itself is a sad reflection on the council members.
Diane
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:26 p.m.
like you?
Topher
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
This is interesting to consider in relation to teachers' salaries. Teachers get no overtime. Why can't we do the same for police and firefighters? You get paid a salary, you have a base hourly expectation with additional time as needed. For me as a teacher it's usually 15-20 hours more/week that is just considered part of my salary.
AMOC
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
Topher, you are dead wrong that teachers don't get paid overtime. Many, many teachers do get paid OT based on their involvement in various administrative and extra-curricular activities. It's just in AAPS, they call it "points" and try to cover it up in the budget. Teachers are paid to be in the school buildings for 30-36 hours per week, and they are also expected to put in another 10-15 hours per week developing lesson plans and grading. That adds up to a pretty normal professional work week of 40-55 hours, no justification for overtime.
Casey
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
Let's use some common sense. You cannot compare teaching to police work. When you call in sick or miss work for any reason they get a sub for you. They pay a lay person to cover for you. This is not what happens when a police officer calls in sick. Another officer must cover the shift. That officer cannot be a lay person like a substitute teacher. He must be a trained officer. That officer is selected from the officers working that day. The selected officer must then work a double shift. This is known as a force. It occurs most often with no warning. You go in to work at 4pm expecting to be relieved at midnight, but at 10 your sergeant forces you until 8am because someone from the next shift called in sick . You expect these guys to work straight throughthe night, 16 hours for no extra pay? Oh yeah and good luck catching up on sleep because you have kids to take to school, and court to show up to because some idiot heard that if you challenge a ticket the judge will let you go with no points. Then get ready because you are back in at 4 to start all over on three hours of sleep. The extra time police officers put in is not the same as grading papers at the coffee shop. Plus teachers get three months off, and holidays with their families, so that extra time put in isnt all that "extra."
Soothslayer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
I guess teaching and our kids future and that of our world is not as important as these other jobs. Everyone will get away with what they can for as long as they are able.
Topher
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
Thanks Basic Bob - you are right that it changes from job to job. I feel like there must be a standard for AA Police and Fire - what is considered a standard workweek? Is it 40 hours/week for their salaries? At what point does the city start paying overtime? I also agree that if all of this money is going to overtime, just hire some full-time staff. It's interesting though to compare to teaching (perhaps not a fully fair comparison) where jobs are just cut/class sizes are increased and the teachers fill in the gaps with no overtime.
Basic Bob
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
Salary has different meanings in different organizations. One place I worked considered 48-50 hours per week to be normal; if I got my time in I could go to a doctor appointment or just leave early on Friday. Other places mandate "casual" overtime - unpaid for the first 5 or 10 hours, then paid at straight time, only if approved. One manager expected 70 hours per week, 48 weeks a year. That's roughly $10 an hour. In the case of police officers and fire fighters, I think I would call it base pay, since overtime is a regular occurrence. The level of overtime certainly justifies some additional hiring. For the bubble heads to collect overtime pay is egregious.
Linda Peck
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
So is this why we are unable to hire more police and fire personnel, we are paying huge overtime payments to current employees? These huge payments for overtime are unbelievable and shocking! Who is writing the rules here? The head spins in disbelief.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
lets give more to the rich instead of(your neighbor)the middle class.
Mike
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
Soon there will only be enough money in the anual budgets to pay for retirement benefits and no services. For those who haven't been paying attention for years this problem is larger, nationally than the federal deficit by a factor of ten or more. The continued retirement of the baby boomers is only going to make it worse. We can't pay enough taxes to fund all of this and there aren't enough rich people (1%ers) to save this country from financial callamity. The can continues to be kicked down the road...............
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
There MERS (retirement account) is probably overfunded for all we know.
Mike
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.
The taxpayers are awakening...............maybe............
Basic Bob
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.
I don't understand the *generous* severance packages for people who retire or quit. I thought severance was for those who are involuntarily terminated. Fraser and McCormick collected huge piles on their way to double-dipper government jobs.
citizenwhocares
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
Working overtime is not a solution. They are only kicking the can down the road. These retirement programs are not just a2, they are with most govt jobs. The focus has to be renegotiated union contracts that are sustainable. The deficit problems will continue to resurface if they don't.
braggslaw
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
Please don't ask for another tax hike, city income tax etc.
Tony Livingston
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Actually, if you live in the city and are paying all of the property taxes, it makes sense to support a city income tax. It would collect some money from the people who actually use the city. For instances, Ann Arbor tax payers pay for all of those wonderful city parks that are open and free to everyone from outside the city to use. Scio Township taxes are 15 mils lower than Ann Arbor. Why? No need to pay for parks when one can simply zip over to Almendinger or Gallop and enjoy them for free. Living in Ann Arbor no longer means living in the city limits. But the taxes are still structured as if it does. Way unfair and it brings the property values in the city down as people go elsewhere for newer houses and lower taxes with the same schools and libraries.
SonnyDog09
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:45 a.m.
I am struck by the number of what appear to be salaried positions that are getting paid overtime. Overtime is something that hourly employees get paid. Why is the city paying overtime to salaried employees?
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
I feel much safer in Ann Arbor then Detroit!
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
for now...
Carole
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
What is field operations? I understand Police and fire having overtime because they staff has been cut so drastically that they have to have individuals do overtime. Bring the department back to full staff and it might be more financially responsible. Water and Sewer maybe? But as for the rest, no way. Get your job done in the time allotted to do so. Thank you.
eagleman
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
Mike, Ann Arbor historically has issues with unplowed roads. it sure doesn't seem like the city is getting what they are paying for in that regard.
Ryan J. Stanton
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
From the field operations page on the city's website: "Field Operations is the combination of field - oriented maintenance and operational divisions from across the organization. There are 140 FTEs responsible for park maintenance, forestry, natural area preservation, street lighting, signals, signs, radio communications, street maintenance, sidewalk inspection, street leaf collection, solid waste and material recovery activities, the airport, and all water, wastewater, and storm water distribution and collection."
Mike
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
They are the guys who fix your water main when it breaks or sewers when they collapse, plow your snow, etc.....
OLDTIMER3
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
I bet Dann didn't work an average of 50 hours a week while working to earn that big a pension. Skilled trades at the big 3 work and average of 3300 hours per year to get about 22000 pension per year at the most .
huh7891
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
If anyone has the paper copy of today's news(Sunday) edition it reads " Milking Overtime". Cmon AnnArbor .com...you really want to go there? If shifts need to be covered and cases need detectives to follow up on them and this can't be covered in a normal shift how is that milking overtime. Police can' t just walk away from a shooting or an accident they are covering because their shift ended at say 7:00. Rather than making it look like these individuals are working the system how about thanking them instead for going above and beyond and taking time from their families to do their job and more. You should be ashamed Ann Arbor.com.
nowayjose
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.
@ eagleman, regardless of shootings there are serious crimes that require investigation that goes beyond ones normal work hours. And do u think just because there are other agencies in the area they are going to come in the city and help investigate while most of them have their own budget problems. You'd probably be the first to complain if AAPD went to another city on your tax dime to assist another city. You made no valid point in your comment.
eagleman
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Ann Arbor rarely has any shootings and with the plethora of agencies in this area--AAPD, UM, Washtenaw County, MSP, Pittsfield, it stands to reason that they have enough officers to deal with the crimes in a country that really is not all that big.( approximate pop: 182,000)
djacks24
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4 p.m.
If anyone has the paper copy of today's news(Sunday) edition it reads " Milking Overtime". Cmon AnnArbor .com...you really want to go there? If it walks like a duck... Apparently, most folks are too lazy to do the math (especially when it's blatantly obvious to figure out) to see whats going on. Even the folks that approve the overtime are paid (and taking) ridiculous amounts of overtime. Change these higher administrative positions to salary (like they should be) and watch the blatant abuse of overtime diminish.
SpamBot1
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
AA.com has become another fox news.
snoopdog
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
No, you should be ashamed for fleecing the taxpayers ! Bringing this to light is going to cause change , at least it better had. Good Day
Mike
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
I have no problem with overtime unless they are salaried. What's with all of the severance pay?
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
another sunday, another anti-union, anti-public employee rant by repu.. oops I mean Ann Arbor.com.
OLDTIMER3
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:15 a.m.
More manpower means more benefit costs , so it is cheaper in the long run usually to work the ones you have more hours as they already have their benefits paid for. This is what the auto companies used to say.
citizenwhocares
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:56 a.m.
I disagree too...they are only kicking the can down the road. These retirement programs are not just a2, they are with most govt jobs.
Carole
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:35 a.m.
Disagree.
MB111
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:15 a.m.
How can the City Attorney possibly be an hourly employee? Why is that not a salaried position?
eyesofjustice
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:28 p.m.
Stephen Postema is the highest paid City Attorney in Michigan, take a look at the annarborchronicle story on his employment agreement http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/12/20/postemas-performance-review-no-raise/ click on the link ion the story that downloads a pdf file that shows his savvy employment agreement!
mixmaster
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Key word. Postema. Home town boy with plenty of elite connections
Robert Granville
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
Key word... attorney.
motorcycleminer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:12 a.m.
As Judy Collins said " bring in the clowns ...don't bother there here " what do you expect when you have a circus running the city...art ?
rm1
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.
>> As Judy Collins said " bring in the clowns ...don't bother they're here " << Actually, Stephen Sondheim said that (wrote the lyric, in a song for "A Little Night Music"); Judy Collins just sang it (there are a lot of other covers - see YouTube -- and Judi Dench did it even better).
Patriot
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
Wow - A2 is super generous with benefit pay. Looking at some of these peoples pay - it seems they get paid for working, paid for taking time off (called vacation to us non-A2 employees), get paid for food, and then the big one - a HUGE whopping PAYOUT just to quit. A2 is the best place to leave a job I have ever seen. I would like to get hire just to quit and get more than 100% of my salary AGAIN, just for quitting. What a fiscal joke A2 is.
Robo
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
same here on the vacation roll over. Ive never worked for a place that didnt.
Jake C
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:26 p.m.
Snoopdog, I work in the private sector and I've had several employers who allowed employees to roll over and cash out vacation/pto time. Unless you know for a fact that "most of us" don't get this benefit, please don't speak for the rest of us.
snoopdog
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Sorry JohnnyA2, most all of us in the private sector cannot carry over vacation if we don't use it. It is called use it or lose it. As well, you don't get paid cash for vacation not used. Get a clue bro ! Good Day
johnnya2
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:02 p.m.
Yes, they get paid for taking time off, just as I do. I get paid PTO (personal time off). If I do not use it I can take cash, or roll it into the next year instead. This is extremely common in all organizations. Cashing out accumulated time off happens in a specific year, and would be considered a liability on the books (it is an unpaid , bill). It may be $20,000, but it may have taken 20 years to earn that money.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
Are some ready for Charter police?/hired security from Romney
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:56 a.m.
Question: Does the city pay "time and a half" or "double" pay for overtime? Question: Why have fewer police or firefighters than you actually need and then pay more for overtime than what the extra employees would have cost the taxpayers? Sounds like mismanagement to me. However, don't blame the employees if proper management controls weren't in place!
thedime
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
If a member of the fire department or his family has a debilitating injury then the benefit cost goes up exponentially, especially if the city is self insured. Benefits can not have a hard cap of 33% put on them, as there are to many variables.
Victor Lacca
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
I don't blame employees for collecting OT, it's the managers decision- that's where the spotlight should shine. It looks like much of the big money is finding its way into the manager's pockets. Rent-a-cops are an effective stop gap for many situations. Do we need full service police for crowd control or traffic pointing? Public employees resist any outsourcing with zeal. Should a manager push back? what about the tax payer? i think people are beginning to realize that tax dollars a squandered routinely and ready to call out the managers- especially when the
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
@Craig Lounsbury: Newly hired fire fighters under the current contract cost just under $80,000 a year including all benefits.
1bit
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
Edit: That reply should have said "Good questions, Stephen, and great point, scott.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.
To answer question 1 I would guess a combination depending on the situation. To ask a question on your question #2, how many extra firefighters could have been hired/rehired with the overtime?
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:22 a.m.
@Scott: Actually not for fire fighters. The benefits are only 33% of the pay. So if you hired the additional fire fighters you actually need anyway to meet national standards for fire response times, you'd actually save money even if overtime was only 1.5x regular pay and not 2x regular pay. Also, how does the extra pay and cashing in the accumulated benefits pay impact the final calculation of salary that then determines the pension paid for the rest of a retiring employee's life?? If the overtime is not available in that final year, does it then lower the annual pension payout for life??
1bit
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:21 a.m.
Great point, stephen. Another issue is that when you hire someone, you will be paying them all year round (even if there is not much work at some periods). As such, it can definitely be more economical to use overtime as long as it does not hurt productivity and if your employees are willing.
scott
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:13 a.m.
You don't have to pay them 1.5 times the benefits for overtime, so overall it's less money....
Alan Goldsmith
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:46 a.m.
"Roger Fraser, who resigned as city administrator last April, pulled in $118,056 in wages while working less than a third of the year. His base salary was $145,355. Fraser collected $55,906 in regular pay, including more than $6,700 in paid time off in four months, plus $2,680 in allowances and $59,470 in severance pay. He now has a pension worth $38,061 a year." So what is Frazer doing now? Oh RIGHT--serving as a Financial Manager hit man for Rick Snyder and helping cities becoming more 'financially responsible'.
SonnyDog09
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:37 a.m.
Get your popcorn ready. This should be fun.
Mike K
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
Well said SonnyDog09. Logged in just for it.
u812
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:36 a.m.
It's Sunday Again, AA.com mixing it up... I will guess over 145
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
whats the over/under on comments?