New County Administrator Salary

[Bob Hudson]

Salary negotiations with the newly selected County administrator have concluded with a proposed starting salary of $132,500. The County Commissioners must now either approve the negotiated salary or reject it - most likely on May 12th.

This salary will make the County Administrator the highest paid employee of the BCC eclipsing the $125,000 salary of the TDC Director and $32,636 more than the previous County Administrator.

 

[scooterbug44]

Exactly why do we need to increase the salary by $32,636?

Unemployment was at 9% last time I checked.

 

[Kurt]

From WZEP AM1460





Walton hires County Administrator

Greg Kisela has been hired as the Walton County Administrator. Kisela will start with Walton on June 21, leaving his job as Destin City Manager. The Walton commissioners agreed on a 4-1 vote to hire Kisela at $132,500 a year. Commissioners said this was about $10,000 less than he was making in his Destin job.

The employment agreement includes a benefit package the commissioners and County Attorney Lynn Hoshihara called standard for employees. Hoshihara negotiated the agreement during a four hour meeting. The agreement also includes a severance package where Kisela will get any pay and time due plus six months salary. This will come into effect only if he is dismissed “without cause” and does not include retirement. The agreement also has the county paying into his retirement at 14.57%, something Assistant County Administrator Gerry Demers says is standard for senior employees.

Kisela will also be provided with a vehicle since he is on call 24-7 and will be required to establish residency within the corporate limits within six months.

Under his time at Destin, he oversaw the beach restoration project, securing funding for Destin East Pass and a community redevelopment project. Kisela is also credited with helping in downsizing staff and works in the community, even helping Santa.

During the discussion, commissioner Sara Comander said she looked at Walton’s neighbors around the area and across the state and suggested a starting pay of $127,000 then evaluate in six months to consider a raise, then again six months later. She said the pay with the benefits comes to around $150,000. Comander asked, “If we start at the top, then where do we go?” She said she is not against Kisela and feels he is a good man.

Commissioner Cecilia Jones noted Kisela is taking a $10,000 cut and comes as a professional. She said less pay might cause him to run. Commissioner Larry Jones noted the benefits were standard for county employees and the pay is $132,500. Commissioner Scott Brannon asked if there is a probation period. It was explained the position is at the will of the commissioners, but there is a probation period.

The vote passed with Comander the nay vote.

 

[scooterbug44]

Less pay might cause him to run?

For $25K I'll risk it.

 

[GoodWitch58]

"The agreement also has the county paying into his retirement at 14.57%, something Assistant County Administrator Gerry Demers says is standard for senior employees."

this is okay for the County Administrator...but the teachers, and firefighters, and other public servants now must pay for their retirement package...wonder what the advocates of "fiscal restraint and less government" think about this?

 

[scooterbug44]

I think that the pay increase would pay a starting teacher's salary.

And if the justification for the high pay is that he's a "professional," what the hell were the other applicants?

 

[idlewind]

Why is this one worth more than Ronnie Bell was worth? If I remember right he was with the county over 30 years and about half that as administrator. i believe his salary was around 110,000. Is someone with little knowledge of Walton County worth 22,000 more than someone with a lifetime's experience. Maybe Ms. Commander is waking up, but someone needs to throw water on the other four.

 

[Teresa]

There are many factors to consider, including the skill and experience the new manager brings to the job, the goals of the County, etc. Sometimes with professional level County/City leadership positions, you definitely get what you pay for. Comparing salary with TDC Director, teachers, or other positions really is not valid or relevant, at least in my opinion.

 

[idlewind]

There are many factors to consider, including the skill and experience the new manager brings to the job, the goals of the County, etc. Sometimes with professional level County/City leadership positions, you definitely get what you pay for. Comparing salary with TDC Director, teachers, or other positions really is not valid or relevant, at least in my opinion.

The TDC director is relevant if only because that position is vastly overpaid and the same commissioners did it under the same set of circumstances. It seems odd that they are asking employees, some of whom make barely above minimum, to contribute to their retirement and take pay cuts or layoffs at the same time they are giving the "leaders" huge salaries with no experience or no county experience.

 

[scooterbug44]

IMO we should easily be able to get qualified people AND some cost savings in a competitive job market.

It seems ridiculous to be slashing other benefits and cutting positions in the name of "budget issues," yet drastically increasing pay for this position when it comes with massive benefits.

Some cuts are in order in the top paying positions.