Yes, they are parasites. No sympathy for the tick when the dog dies. Hopefully people come to their senses soon enough to put them on the streets before they take everything. Imagine any of these morons trying to get real jobs?

I've went to bed with happier thoughts Lois...Thank you for opening the lid on the can of manure....one of these days, the people will stop calling them politicans and call them what they really are--proctoligists....

Hey Lois ....  its too bad you work for an employer that believes you are only worth minimum wage .. but comon ...   county workers deserve every nickel they get .. especially Donny Youngbloo,  your idol - hes my hero too .. that double dipper .. if anybody knows how to scam the system.. hes the one

They should have a pool of County owned or leased cars for every day (business) use, and those cars should NOT be driven home or used for personal trips. There should be NO car allowance. These people make enough to use their own damn car like everybody else. They should pay half of their medical insurance premiums and the County should set them up in the Government's TSP system, or a 401k, and pay no more than a 5% matching contribution. No pension. If you want a retirement, save for it like the rest of us do (or try to, anyway.) If you can't find good people to take those jobs, then raise the base pay as needed. The savings in eliminating these benefits will more than pay for it.

I think Lois needs to get a county job and not be so jealous!

I agree that public employee pay scales, benefits and perks should be examined. There are potential compromises and reductions to look at and negotiate in an effort save some money for the public.

That being said, most of this column really smacks of an us versus them mentality which ultimately leads to both sides coming out in the end as losers. In the not so distant past, when the private sector had strong pay and benefit packages I do not recall those in the public sector demanding that the private sector reduce pay and benefits to match the lower wages and benefits found for public employees. I don't recall the members of our Armed Services demanding pay scales for retail or manufacturing be reduced to soldier pay, or that hospital access should be no better than VA hospital access. It occurs to me that the public sector employees and management went about trying to improve their status to match what the private sector provided. 

I find astounding that the only effort made by people today is to take away living wages and benefits from one group because the other group is too ignorant and too passive to figure out how to raise their own standards.

You go, Lois. Keep pushing to lower everyone's standard of living and we'll all get their together with no money, no health care and no social insurance. 

KCManager:

I make more than minimum wage, thanks for caring. And this column examined what the upper echelon makes, not rank and file. Those salaries and benefits, I'm sure are much less heady.

Donny Youngblood isn't my hero, by the way.

AdamPayne:

Sure, there's an argument to be made that what people like me should holler for is higher benefits and pay for everyone so the standard of living for everyone goes up. But that's not realistic in a down economy like this.

I did mention that salaries in the public sector had lagged and recruitment was a problem, so  they got bumped. (Though for years, public benies were going up, up, up as the private sector moved to more co-pay medical beneifts and 401(k)s so it's not exactly true that the private sector was so much better off.)

Either way, the situation now is that the private sector is struggling and can't afford to pay high wages and benefits for its own workers, much less keep the public sector awash in such luxury.

We need to be able to roll with the economic punches and not create a calcified situation that drags us all down. I'm certainly not saying "cut em all off!!" I'm saying, lets look at this and be realistic.

I think the problem Lois is even though you start off saying "department heads and managers" and all the examples are of such level, some people still take this as an attack on ALL county employees, not the management. Perhaps the title could have been reworded to say "benefits for management" to make the intent crystal clear, but I suspect even then people would misconstrue the intent.

Hopefully your next article will be about overpaid executives in the private sector. They are also being given way too big of a salary, and receive obnoxious benefits packages and flaunt their money with expensive cars and mega-mansions. I think they should be taxed heavily, especially in these tough times. They would not suffer one bit.

Pete. The executives in the private sector are not being paid with tax money. Oh! I almost forgot, Oscama gave many of them our money and it IS being paid as bonuses. 

No kidding they aren't being paid with tax money. My point is that Lois' column is suggesting that we can save tax money by lowering their benefits package, and I'm saying in addition to that we should be tapping into a great resource for revinue. The wealthiest among us. Out of all Americans having to pay more taxes would harm them the least.

Please do a story on CSUB President Horace Mitchell.  He receives a six figure salary plus many benefits including money for parties.  I always see fees for students rising and cuts to professors, but never to the mucky mucks on top like Mitchell.  When I went to Cal State, I never saw Arcinega walking the halls.  What do the Presidents do anyway?

I did some research and on the Sac Bee website, you can search for State Worker Pay, here is Horace Mitchell's pay :

$285,000 regulary pay, $63,584 benedits, total pay = $348.584

http://www.sacbee.com/state...

Rudy Carvajal makes $142,224 with only $762 in benefits.

This is a great tool, just type in the person's name and where he works.  Why can't you folks make such a tool?

Lois, you sound like Obama. I am not a Kern County Employee. I think you, honor what you started. Start giving golden hand shakes, to get the system, in order. What i don't hear, is the poor investments, & the mistakes the the board has made. Why should cops or firemen get a chance to retire 3 at 50. It should be 3 at 55. If they don't like, get another job. But for these cops, & firemen that are on this schedule i think you honor that. I think there are ways to do this,with class & still achieve what you need to do. Its funny, to hear County employees shouldn't receive these benefit's. It had to be approve by the members of the board, at that time, or did Scott Jones get over on the board. I am in private busniess, I not saying, change is not good, but you word should mean something. I would like to see a change, term limit of 8 years for the board, what do you think, Lois. 

The public benefits package offsets their relatively low pay. As an example, somene I know very well manages about 100 state employees and gets paid less than $80,000 a year. She recently got a job offer from a private firm for a $250,000 a year job.

It is her benefits package that keep her where she is. That has been the reality of keeping good people in public jobs.

Steve

That's right!  I knew I could make more in the private sector but working for school districts gave me 14 holidays a year, 12 sick days, 3 family sick days and a top of the line health package which  more than made up for less salary.    Especially when my kids were small and I needed regular hours and most school holidays off.

Good job Lois!  It is amazing how little reaction there has been from the community.  Does this suggest that  the Californian is only being delivered to public employees or is the fourth grade writing standard above the typical reader hence a lack of understanding?

I for one, am fed up with the "hush-hush" nature of how much the county board of supervisors & their Department Heads get paid.....if they are laying off employees, cutting services and hours, and asking everyone to pitch in and "take one for the team" then....I say, "What is good for one, is good for all!"  We DO need to start at the top and work down - Lois has pointed this out!  After the State Budget Fiasco, and the millions taken from already struggling counties by our Governor.....I say all of our "elected officials" that have been quick to cut our living in chunks need to be forced to take the same cuts, or be GONE!  If they are asking their employees to pay into their health care and retirement, then - open up your wallet and be the first to pitch in!  Maybe then, they will be willing to turn in their car allowances and other perks that should have been gone a long time ago!

WAKE UP CALIFORNIA (and America!!)  We, the tax payers have had services cut again, and are being asked to foot the bill AGAIN!  In California, we have services cut to those that have worked and paid into social security for their lifetimes - now, their in-home services are gone, thanks Arnie!  Health care for children that don't have any....or who had low cost healthcare.... bye-bye!  Millions have been taken from our county, and yet, our "representatives" have opted "NOT to take a percentage off their pay" because they don't wish to....really?  HUH, I didn't think any of us wished to have our services cut, pay cut by more than 20%, or be ordered to take a furlogh day off without pay; yet, they are still expected to keep up with their workload in 4 days, instead of 5. 

It's time we all stand together and kick ALL of our "elected representatives" who choose to represent their own interests, over those who put them in the positions they enjoy all of the fringe benefits.....Maybe when we take a stand and say "We are fed up, and won't take it any more!" and march on Sacramento as a united group of citizens protesting their Fat-Cat ways....we'll get somewhere!  Thanks for the insight Lois, and keep exposing the true numbers.  All I heard during the Sheriff's Budget deal was the "real cost" and there were never any numbers given in a cost comparison.  It's refreshing to see that there are finally some numbers for someone's salaries and benefits getting released.  By the way, what do the Board of Supervisor's get paid, and receive in benefits???

Lois, why was the story limited to a review of Kern's Department Heads?  Aren't there others in Kern County who are public service employees?  Edwards?  China Lake?  Fed and State government?  

As to those who decry the pay, seems to me that you don't fully understand what these department heads do.   They are some of the hardest working folks I know.  They deal with a morass of bureaucrary, regulations, incredible budget pressures, and still are expected to do more with less year after year.  (some are now doing everything with nothing!)

When only 70% of the County's population is expected to attain a HIGH SCHOOL degree, and the majority of families median family income is $44,568 - it is no wonder your story's headline generates some flak.  (source, EDIS, June 2009)  To you and them I say - go to school and get a degree (heck, get an advanced degree or professional distinction like most of the department heads/managers)!   If you knew just what it takes to be a department head or senior manager in the County (or a City), you'd realize that advanced education and experience are critical.  And, unless you don't want someone very capable at the helm you have to pay a competitive wage.  If you'd check around with other jurisdictions, you'd learn that Kern's salaries ARE competitve - and even below - the competition.

On to the next sensational story.....!

Bakofog, I am not implying that Dept. heads don't earn their pay.  HOWEVER, I believe most of us are saying that if the BOS (Board Of Supervisors) and the County Dept. Heads are asking their rank and file employees to take pay cut after pay cut; then, they should be willing to do the same!  If you look at how many have been laid off "for the budget" then..doesn't it make common sense that the leaders of the Dept.  and their upper management should also take some of the financial hit and help balance the budget?  And....I did go to college and attained my Bachelor's Degree.  I did work for the county in administration and I do have a clue what it takes to be a Dept. head.  I worked with numerous managers during my time at the county.  I don't believe it is easy, nor do I believe it should be on the shoulders of the lower paid employees.  My point is that ALL should shoulder the responsibility - NOT the choice few.

This does not just apply to our county; but, it should for the entire State and Nation!

Mom2CandC,   Employees covered under the General Bargaining Unit received a 4% pay increase on July 1.  Department Heads and Managers did not.  I think that IS taking some of the hit.

Look again Lois...these people that RUN these agencies are friends of friends of friends...they take care of their own---

Head of the Water District---Retired..collects a pension with bennies--REACTIVATED with salery while keeping his retirement with bennies---BECAUSE---NO ONE CAN FILL HIS SHOES AFTER RETIREMENT.....care to blow smoke up the other cheek--(NOT YOU LOIS)--just thinking out loud to whomever is running things and just making a point.....

According to Bakofog, "Employees covered under the General Bargaining Unit received a 4% pay increase on July 1.  Department Heads and Managers did not.  I think that IS taking some of the hit."  Really, well, I think that any pay increase should have been postponed - especially since there are many departments that are being forced to lay off workers.  I know that at least one representative of a county union group was asked to agree to pay cuts AND other reductions for a year or more.  How can it be justified to give one group a raise, when you are asking others to join the unemployment lines or take a serious paycut?  I don't understand the rationale!  And, don't fret.....the department heads have their own bargaining unit that will win them a nice cost of living raise - or something along those lines.  They won't take "too big a hit."

I'm sorry, it's still ridiculous to expect those who are in the positions of leadership not to help in these times - like the ELECTED OFFICIALS that continue to refuse to give up their perks (car allowances, housing allowances, insurance paid by us, and all the other benefits) when they are forcing each and every State resident to sacrifice in one way or another. 

SPAM CODE: AXRNY (my version = AX ARNY) 

thats right I could be making $ 250 K in the private sector ...  bwhaaaaa   ...  fat chance ... we know we have a good deal ... 

"ProgressivePete2"  What is it that you don't like about the private sector?? Owners of businesses often put in many more hours than the hourly employees, they also risk much of their own money to start and maintain a business. Their employees continue to collect a check when things get THIN (as they are now) where the owners will liquidate cars, IRAs, 401Ks, ect in an attempt to keep their business going and their employees from losing their jobs. Small business in this country employ most of the work force. 

 What is it about Private do you not understand??

Lois, although I don't live in your area, I still can agree with your premise --and I shall paraphrase -- are making out like bandits.  One of my sisters was an employee of a city-county in another state; when she retired, she was retiring on 75% of her salary.  Nice work if you can get it.  In addition to that, there had been employment earlier in her life where she paid into Social Security, so she puts that together and really leads a life with no real worries.  Her home is paid for, car is paid for, of course, and she's quite comfortable. 

In my opinion, state, local and federal employees in general are making out like bandits. 

It's pointless to bitch about this stuff.  Most of the benefits looks to be reasonable and below scale in comaprison to the private companies I've worked for. 

I think it would make more sense to bitch about how "cheap" or "tight" other employers are, that their benefits aren't as good as gov't employees.

I'll be honest, I've turned down several gov't positions because the compensation + benefits weren't anywhere near competitive for my field.  In fact, I felt sorry for the people working there and didn't want to join their misery train.

Lets focus on more pressing issues, such as why people continue to hire un-documented workers - or why it's even allowed?

to a certain extent, i do agree that maybe the benefit packages of some of our county and city employees are a little on the rich side

with that being said, let me kindly remind everyone of a growing population within the United States that takes BILLIONS of dollars away from the tax pot annually, and t hey dont even hold a job

no, im not referring to welfare recipients...that will come later..  lol

what I am referring to is the prision population.  can anyone please tell me logically why prisioners have rights, when most of them broke the rights of a citizen to earn their trip to the clink?

all the comforts of home, in a dormitory setting, with FREE medical care

socially and monitarily, it doesnt make sense