Just compensation

A recent Toledo Blade article took umbrage with the raises that we gave some of our administrative staff recently, particular our administrator, Mr. Thomas. While I wince at having an employee's salary subject to such open analysis because a person's income is generally a personal and private topic not subject to public scrutiny, the reality is that all of our employees are fully aware that this information is public record and is turned over to anyone who asks. That being said, I have no problem discussing my part in the decision to award these raises.

First, let's get some facts straight that the Blade did not: prior to July 1, 2008, Mr. Thomas received $105,000 annual salary plus $450 per month in a car allowance, for a total W-2 compensation package of $110,400. During our recent annual review for Mr. Thomas, we rolled his car allowance in to his salary and increased the total package to $125,000. Thus, he received a 13% raise, not 19% that the Blade reported.

The Blade takes great pains to point out several townships that pay less than we do, as well as noting that a couple of large townships do not have an administrator. One of those townships without an administrator, Marion Township in Marion County, actually has only 20% of its population (fewer than 10,000 people) in the unincorporated part of the township; the rest is located within the city of Marion which has its own separate government just as the City of Sylvania does. The other, Beavercreek Township, has only 3,000 out of a total population of 41,000 in the unincorporated portion of the township. These are hardly valid comparisons to Sylvania which has over 25,000 residents outside the City of Sylvania, but they certainly where useful in making it look like we are paying our administrator too much.

But beyond those two example, according to the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs at Miami University (link: http://data.cpmra.muohio.edu/salary/2007Data/07data.htm), the following are administrator salaries from some of the larger townships in Ohio for 2006 and 2007:

• Colerain - $118,955 (Largest Township)
• West Chester - $121,900 (3rd Largest Township)
• Washington - $108,530 (4th Largest Township)
• Anderson - $117,157 (9th Largest Township)
• Union - $125,000 (11th Largest Township)
• Deerfield - $109,507 (32nd Largest Township)
• Harrison - $115,000 (33rd Largest Township)

Not included in the above numbers may be additional perks such as a car allowance, additional retirement allocations, or factors such as experience and education of the administrator. Also, I am not familiar with what services these townships provide; not all townships have their own police, fire, etc., while others have recreation, parks and the like.

Mr. Thomas has brought to the township a new level of professionalism, management, and oversight, providing valuable guidance and strategic direction to the trustees. No longer are our labor contracts negotiated without the assistance of an attorney; no longer do we simply sign off on any building permit or development proposal that is brought in to our zoning department; no longer do we simply add 3% to last year's budget and ignore the budget until next year; no longer do we ignore the budget impact of labor negotiations.

Clearly our decision to increase Mr. Thomas's compensation is well within reasonable ranges of that profession. And for that sum we receive in exchange qualified, professional, and experienced management. By and large we have very little turn over at the township, partially due to the fact that we pay competitive wages in all departments, for both union and non-union labor. Certainly, we could replace any township employee as no one is irreplaceable, and that includes Mr. Thomas. But it would be extremely short sighted if we were to lose Mr. Thomas due to inadequate benefits to turn around and either have to accept a less-qualified replacement or pay the higher going market rates for a qualified candidate while losing valuable time and progress as the learning curve has to be tackled by a new administrator.