As a story in today's Observer reports, county commissioners approved a new pay plan for County Manager Harry Jones on Tuesday that eliminates performance bonuses from his compensation package.
Commissioners have approved bonuses regularly to county managers since the mid-1990s, but agreed in 2004 to change the way they are awarded. Under that plan, which you can read here, the manager could receive a performance bonus of up to 30 percent of his base salary based on four criteria, including percentage of county goals achieved and demonstrated leadership.
But on Tuesday, commissioners voted to eliminate that bonus, which they've also called "pay at risk" in the past year. Click here to read new details of the new pay plan.
Instead, the manager's base salary can be changed based on the "prevailing market rate" of his position. Any change to the base salary beyond the market adjustment will be based on the board's evaluation of the manager's performance, according to a document outlining the changes.
(Read more about how the county makes decisions on market rate and other pay adjustments by clicking here.)
For the year that begins July 1, Jones' base salary will be $242,500, up from his current pay of $215,655. The county said the increase is consistent with the average market rate adjustment of other county positions since 2008, the last time the manager had an increase in his base salary.
Jones' total compensation, however, is going down by about 6.6 percent to $283,011. That's because the county eliminated the bonus, as well as a match to his 401(k) plan.
Commissioners said Jones requested the decrease to his compensation.
In other changes to Jones' pay agreement, commissioners agreed to provide full payment of Jones' health insurance premiums if he is terminated by the board before December of 2011. Previously the board had agreed to pay 50 percent of those premiums. In addition, the board will continue to pay the health insurance for Jones' wife until she becomes Medicare eligible, regardless of whether Jones is terminated or retires.
Jones, 60, has been county manager since 2000.
Commissioners typically conduct their evaluation of Jones during the fall, but Chairman Jennifer Roberts said they wanted to discuss Jones' pay at the same time they considered the 2010-11 budget. Roberts said the board's evaluation of Jones' performance will continue in August. -- April Bethea
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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18 comments:
Did they also "lower" the salaries of the people from his chruch that he appointed to various six-figure County Jobs?
So in the same night where County leaders voted to eliminate paying for health insurance premiums for retired employees who are hired after 7/1/10 and give 20 years or more of service, the board approved to pay for the manager's insurance and his wife's even if he does not put in a full term. Unbelievable!
Anyone know how long Ms. Fox has until retirement?
unbelievable
Hmmmmm interesting way of doing math… from $215,655 to $242,500 increase of $26,845. Wonder what the “prevailing market rate” will be next year? In the “real world” when an employee gets a pay cut they DON’T get a $27,000 raise first! A real pay cut is when Harry takes what his current base pay is AND forego the “bonus” AND forego the 401K match AND the health benefits for the Mrs. Then you could be among millions of other Americans that have been living this way for years now!!
Harry needs to take a cut like a man; otherwise I‘m not impressed and won‘t be crying any rivers. What happens when the taxpayers money runs out?…..OH WAIT!! It already has…just a mere 80-85million in the hole and the city and county are still handing out raises!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
That's *#cked upper than a football bat. I can't wait until November!
Anyone know how long Ms. Fox has until retirement?
Ms. Foxx (Samara) resigned her position on December 31, 2009.
Seriosuly, were any of the people Harry had hired from his church laid off?
Harry Jones is completely incompetent. He has always been grossly over paid, and is still to this day. Who do these commisioners think they are fooling? Mecklenburg has been getting worse every year that Jones has been manager. Do the right thing and fire him now! I'm sure if we, the people, could vote him out, it would happen in the blink of an eye.
What about all the people he hired from his church, and all the people from his church hired by the people he hired from his church. Were they laid off? What about all the cash diverted to his church by the DSS director (a member of his church he hired) under the guise of "training sessions". Why isn't any of that being addressed?
The private sector employee has been living with the reduced salaries anywhere from 5-10% in order to KEEP their job, many have been living without matching funds to their 401K for the last couple of years. Notice how the city's across America, run by democrats are facing the same demise? Clearly, the current county commission is in lock step with them. Like any goverment progam, they've figured out the "loophole." Hike the salaries toward retirement then reap the higher return in the pension...all paid by US-THE TAXPAYER...FOREVER! I'd like to know what the UNFUNDED LIABILITIES are in Mecklenburg for all these kinds of goodies. I bet they would make us all sick!
It's time for CORRECT change...NOT CHUMP CHANGE!
Great, the county manager has been given a raise. I say that because no matter how he performs he will get paid. At least the bonus was passed on performance-in theory.
It is totally unacceptable that the county has laid off employees,so they are left with no job and some with no health insurance because they can't afford it. Yet, this woman, who is not employed by the county has been guaranteed health insurance due to association.
This whole plan sucks.
AND Huang Yi should be fired because his "guesses" have cost too many jobs.
Nothing new here, Jones gets a raise... NOBODY was surprised! (poor baby may loose a little something, what a crock) While his STAFF get laid off or NOTHING at all!
In Nov we "the people" will a NEW BOCC with COMMON SENSE and accountability in spite of the current boards back room deals!
Jones better get all he can now because come Nov HE will be GONE too!
I'm NOT wild about Harry.
Prevailing Market rate is for competent people, not Harry. This council needs to be voted out, all of them. He needs to be fired. We don't need a manager who is bigoted, filled with nepotism (look at who he hired, his friends and probably kinfolk). Let's see him on a five figure salary from NC Employment Secuirty Commission. Being fired for doing a bad job as has been documented not only in the workplace, but the press, will keep him from getting any comp (such as Ms. King did) from an employment contract or a wrongful dismissal suit. Can we impeach the council? Can anyone find legal precedence for that? I think it can be done if we have a certain percentage of voters signing proxies for an emergency vote.
> Harry I wish you would close UP all them LIEbraries > If they have books about human beings evolving up from an APE and they know that all life came from BLACK people > P.S.The gulf oil spill is going to make GHOST TOWNS through out the gulf coast when the 1st hurricane comes through the gulf coast and push this oil inland plus it will take this oil all the way to NY.Many people will get sick and some will die for the next 100 yrs. < PEACE B 2U <
the real problem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoKl47nK04M
This is very disgusting. How can his wife receive the benefit of health insurance and people who worked with the company not! WOW
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