Study: Nearly 80,000 Texas Public Sector Workers, San Marcos Included, Make More Than $100,000, Costing Taxpayers Billions
Sarah Downey
The Center Square – As state and local governments seek to address sharp revenue declines due to the COVID-19 economic fallout, a new report found nearly 80,000 Texas public employees make more than $100,000 a year.
The Openthebooks.com analysis was published by Forbes.
For city managers, the ten highest Texas salaries ranged from $319,946 to $880,486. The ten highest-compensated school superintendents made between $365,771 and $452,014.
A total of 18,600 public servants were paid more than Gov. Greg Abbott, who earned $153,750.
“Millions of Texans are unemployed and underemployed, and yet a handful of high-ranking state and local government employees are making a fortune at taxpayer expense,” James Quintero, policy director of Government for the People at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), told The Center Square by email. “In some cases, these well-heeled public servants are earning millions of dollars annually and getting lavish benefits on the side, like generous retirement benefits, health care, housing subsidies, allowances for car, phone and internet services, membership dues to outside organizations, contributions to tax-deferred investment accounts, and bonuses.”
Roughly 9,000 public school system employees make more than $100,000, which costs taxpayers $1.1 billion annually.
“The cost of these extravagant salaries and benefits is enormous – and it weighs heavily on a weary public,” Quintero said.
About 8,300 state employees received six-figure salaries; at the municipal level, 22,656 people made $100,000 or more.
“Elite public sector salaries are paid for by taxpayers, tuition-payers, ratepayers, and others who can least afford it,” Quintero said. “Gone are the days when Texans could afford to overlook this kind of bureaucratic bloat. We’re in a new era now that demands greater government frugality and prudence.”
As property tax rates get proposed, and the state’s budget gets prepared, public officials have to streamline expenses, Quintero said.
“In the near future, state and local leaders should firmly commit to not raising taxes, search for ways to lower the existing tax burden, and postpone going further into debt,” Quintero said. “Over the long-term, these leaders must get government spending under control. Officials can achieve this goal by submitting to a third-party efficiency audit, using zero-based budgeting, and taking commonsense steps to reform compensation practices, like suspending pay raises, instituting hiring freezes, eliminating longevity pay, and reducing excessive executive compensation packages. The combination of these tactics will help bring down the cost of government and right-size employee compensation.”
In the Texas A&M University system, more than 3,900 employees made $100,000 or more, totaling $626 million. At UT Austin, the nearly 3,500 people making six figures or more amounted to $618 million.
“Supersized salaries are a symptom of a larger problem,” Quintero said. “Texans cannot afford to let the status quo continue.”
Corridor Staff
On July 24, 2018, Corridor News contacted the City of San Marcos and issued a Public Information Request for the “FY 2017-2018 base annual salary of all employees individually, with an itemization of overtime, fringe benefits, perquisites, or perks for each exempt and non-exempt, part-time and temporary employee of the City of San Marcos.” We received the information on August 3, 2018.
Note: Some of the city employees we have included below are no longer employed with the City of San Marcos or have changed positions within the city structure.
If you would like to review the full listing of employees and salaries, visit https://smcorridornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/W003755a-071918.pdf.
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| NAME | POSITION | REGULAR SALARY & PERKS PAID OUT FY 2018 |
TOTAL PAID FY 2018 |
| AVILA, SABA | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAY: $89,274.68 VACATION LEAVE: $7,899.92 SICK LEAVE: $2,236.33 FLOATING HOLIDAY: $454.96 PERSONAL LEAVE: $1,426.35 COURT JURY LEAVE: $454.96 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAY: $1,028.00 CAR ALLOWANCE: $2,100 .00 PHONE ALLOWANCE: $787.50 |
$105,662.70 |
|
CALDWELL, JEFFREY |
DIRECTOR |
REGULAR PAY: $94,652.64 |
$103,901.74 |
| COBB, RODNEY | DIRECTOR |
REGULAR PAY PAID: $120,329.34 |
$141,792.60 |
| COSENTINO, MICHAEL | CITY ATTORNEY |
VACATION LEAVE PAID: $5,487.30 |
$153,039.78 |
| HURLBERT, HEATHER | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAY PAID: $102,437.76 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $4,596.58 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,567.06 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $506.60 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,495.20 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAY PAID: $376.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$116,441.70 |
| INSLEY, DIANE | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAY PAID: $85,955.05 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $3,519.36 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,665.28 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $426.96 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,472.30 BEREAVEMENT LEAVE PAID: $1,280.88 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PAID: $166.60 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$101,148.93 |
| JAMISON, COLLETTE | ASST CITY MANAGER | REGULAR PAID: $126,387.28 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $7,487.28 SICK LEAVE PAID: $5,161.28 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $641.92 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $3,877.44 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 |
$148,430.20 |
| KLETT, ROBERT | ASST POLICE CHIEF |
REGULAR PAID: $95,397.23 |
$103,664.30 |
| KUHLMAN, KARL | ASST FIRE CHIEF | REGULAR PAID: $82,244.00 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $14,848.00 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,740.00 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $464.00 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,784.00 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $2,640.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 FIRE CERT MASTER PAID: $1,050.00 |
$106,557.50 |
| LUMBRERAS, HUMBERTO | CITY MANAGER |
REGULAR PAID: $206,470.15 |
$233,860.85 |
| MATANO, SALVATORE | FIRE BATTALION CHIEF | REGULAR PAY SWORN FIRE PAID: $84,474.06 FIRE HOURS WORKED PAID: $0.00 OVERTIME 1 .5 PAY SWORN FIRE PAID: $16,780.14 OT 7 K – 0 .5 PAY SWORN FIRE PAID: $3,373.02 FIRE VACATION LEAVE PAID: $0.00 FIRE SICK LEAVE PAID: $0.00 FIRE FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $0.00 EMERGENCY RESPONSE OVT 1 .50 PAID: $599.52 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $2,640.00 FIRE CERTIFICATION – ADVANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$108,654.24 |
| MATTINGLY, SHANNON | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAID: $103,666.50 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $7,306.74 SICK LEAVE PAID: $6,336.12 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $541.52 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $3,249.12 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $3.69 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$125,566.19 |
| MOYER, LAURIEA | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAY PAID: $124,837.92 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $4,660.40 SICK LEAVE PAID: $2,232.72 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $1,251.04 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $4,136.32 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$142,780.90 |
| PARHAM, WILLIAM | POLICE SERGEANT | REGULAR SWORN POLICE PAID: $51,528.85 OT- FLSA PREMIUM EARNINGS PAID: $410.51 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $4,208.88 SICK LEAVEN PAID: $3,561.36 HOLIDAY PAID: $2,913.84 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $323.76 MODIFIED DUTY PAID: $5,180.16 INCLEMENTWEATHER PAID: $323.76 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $3,400.00 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $4,080.00 VACATION TERMINATION PAID: $27,112.10 SICK TERMINATION PAID: $29,138.40 FROZEN HOLIDAY PAID: $323.76 ASSIGNMENT PAID: $2,240.00 CLOTHING ALLOWANCE PAID: $1,012.50 EDUCATION POL BACHELOR PAID: $1,050.00 |
$136,807.88 |
| PARKER, LEWIS | ASST CITY MANAGER | REGULAR PAID: $120,061.95 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $6,663.36 SICK LEAVE PAID: $4,436.37 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $612.24 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $3,710.52 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PAID: $1,433.16 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $464.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$141,844.10 |
| ROWELL, RICHARD | ASST FIRE CHIEF | REGULAR PAID: $87,290.00 VACATION PAID: $12,064.00 SICK LEAVE PAID: $58.00 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $464.00 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,204.00 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $2,640.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 FIRE CERT-ADVANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$106,295.00 |
| SPACEK, LINDA | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAID: $109,112.44 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,290.32 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $508.80 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,544.00 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PAID: $330.85 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$119,448.91 |
| STAPP, CHARLES | POLICE CHIEF | REGULAR PAID: $109,975.28 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $6,635.84 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,120.48 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,692.40 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$126,086.50 |
| STARK, KRISTY | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAID: $91,030.18 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $3,928.64 SICK LEAVE PAID: $3,241.82 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $503.28 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,614.48 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $268.00 ACTING PAY (PREMIUM) PAID: $4,644.53 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$110,693.43 |
| STEPHENS, LES | FIRE CHIEF | REGULAR PAID: $116,322.42 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $7,595.72 SICK LEAVE PAID: $2,337.40 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $582.88 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $3,511.98 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $356.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $1,575.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$133,068.90 |
| STURM, MIKE | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAID: $98,332.30 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $11,668.57 SICK LEAVE PAID: $2,576.26 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $3,103.68 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $956.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 |
$120,311.81 |
| TAGGART, THOMAS | DIRECTOR | REGULAR PAID: $145,445.40 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $7,984.80 SICK LEAVE PAID: $1,921.50 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $712.80 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $2,880.00 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PAID: $463.50 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $800.00 CAR ALLOWANCE PAID: $3,675.00 PHONE ALLOWANCE PAID: $787.50 |
$164,670.50 |
| WISENER, JAMES | POLICE SERGEANT | REGULAR SWORN POLICE PAID: $41,102.21 OT- FLSA PREMIUM EARNINGS PAID: $1,211.07 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $23,209.53 HOLIDAY HOURS TAKEN PAID: $2,215.74 PREMIUM HOLIDAY PAID: $667.76 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $7,140.00 VACATION TERMINATION PAY PAID: $29,138.40 SICK TERMINATION PAY PAID: $29,138.40 HOLIDAY TERMINATION PAID: $819.52 FROZEN HOLIDAY TERMINATION PAID: $14,569.20 BILINGUAL PAY PAID: $520 .00 |
$149,731.83 |
| WISENER, ROSANNA | MANAGER | ANNUAL SALARY: $57,470.11 VACATION LEAVE PAID: $3,913.06 SICK LEAVE PAID: $5,626.13 FLOATING HOLIDAY PAID: $334.16 PERSONAL LEAVE PAID: $334.16 ANNUAL LONGEVITY PAID: $1,200.00 VACATION TERMINATION PAID: $31,161.60 |
$100,039.22 |
Please tell me the two police sergeants and last “manager” are included in the people that no longer work for San Marcos. That “termination pay” has to be some kind of severance or retirement buy out, right?
For that salary, Mr. Lumbreras can go around removing all the park barriers on his own. Good grief. Thanks to his LOCK DOWNS, San Marcos’s population this year will only be 40,000 people. His base pay is starting at more than $5 per person or nearly $10 per acre (before removing private homes/businesses).
I’d expect a greater economy of scale.
@Robert Holeman. I don’t think Mr. Lumbreras had anything to do with the lock downs? Those in elected positions did. Either way people can complain all they want but I am not sure if most of these civil servants get paid enough for the amount of headache they have to endure. The average city employee could make a lot more money in another position somewhere else. It’s easy to look at the highly paid employees and hone in on them but they’re likely managing a lot of people and have a lot of grief to contend with.
Umm… Actually he did. The City Council said reopen at the City Manager’s discretion. Mr. Lumbreras is the City Manager.