As a Schenectady taxpayer, what would you say if you knew that the City’s payroll figures for 2009, reflected that the difference between “Regular Pay” and “Total Pay” for city employees was nearly 8,200,000.00 Yes, eight million 200 thousand. It means that the City paid 8.2 million more than what it should have paid its employees.
And what would you say if you were told that one city employee earned as much as 694% more than the regular salary? Outrageous? You bet it is.
A preliminary audit by The Schenectady Informer shows that 612 out of 840 City employees earned more that his/her basic salary. Those who exceeded their basic salaries did it with tunes ranging from 694% to 1%.
Included in the list of those who well surpassed their base pay are: Name Position Base Pay Total Earnings %Increase David Cole Water & Sewer $3,064.00 $24,324.09 694 John Santabarbara Med. Mtr. Equip. Op. $3,064.00 $21,264.20 594 Keith Schaffer Police Officer $43,478.43 $126,845.61 192 Patrick Tremante Sewer Maint. Supv. $67,634.00 $150,404.08 122 Wayne Bennett Pub. Safety Commis. $121,992.00 $135.343.12 11 Mark Chaires Chief of Police $115,000.00 $135,450.00 18
Now this is a small sampling. The Schenectady Informer plans on publishing the complete list. But, superficially; people such as the Public Safety Commissioner and the Chief of Police, are they not salaried individuals? If so, how is the difference between the Base Pay and the Total Pay justified?