High ranking public officials are allowed to bank their vacation and make substantial withdrawals upon retirement - that is if you are high enough on the proverbial ladder.
The top two leave payouts in recent months went to deputy chiefs in the Albuquerque Police Department who retired in December. Michael Castro received a $141,000 payment, and Kevin McCabe collected almost $126,000.Your average, everyday city employee lives under a cap that limits the amount of accrued vacation and sick leave. While the specifics vary, our Eyes tell us that most government employees have to use it or lose it after they've accrued about 10 weeks of leave.
- ABQ Journal (Subscription)
Leonard Garcia, who headed the Solid Waste Management Department, received $116,000, and former Fire Chief Robert Ortega $114,000.
Six other employees received payments topping $78,000, including retired Cultural Services Director Ray Darnell and Chávez press secretary Deborah James.
Caps are simply good business and so is providing adequate time off. The former limits the amount financial liability when an employee leaves and the latter makes for a more productive employee.
Mayor Berry has rightly ended the practice and City Councilor Brad Winter intends to make sure that future mayors don't reinstate the practice.
But banking vacation time isn't just for the City of Albuquerque. Last year, KRQE's Larry Barker exposed the Shah of the Rio Grande - Subhas Shah - for running the sever-retire-rehire scam (watch it here). Part of Shah's payout was almost $250,000 in, you guessed it... vacation.
[Sidebar]Meanwhile over at Bernalillo County, county managers and a few directors are busy filling their vacation banks with an unlimited amount of unused vacation to be cashed in at retirement. And we'd be willing to bet that there are numerous other high ranking government employees that are cashing in at taxpayer expense in the dark corners of the state's governments.
Despite the furor over The Shah of the Rio Grande and his scamming of the system, Mr. Shah is still employed by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District as its Chief Engineer and CEO. Sometimes even sunlight fails to cleanse government corruption.
[End Sidebar]
The public sector version of the Golden Rule... He who controls the taxpayer's gold makes the golden parachutes. Golden parachutes, they're not just for Wall Street anymore.
16 comments:
Can't wait till we see what Ray walks away with, if he ever leaves. Darren what WILL YOU DO? Can't be chief; your not capable. Can't stay as PSD much longer, the public is screaming for that position to go away.
Can't run for public office again; the Rs want your scalp.(such as it is)
Maybe you could drive a taxi again, or deliver pizzas with Ray. Oh my bad; Ray won't have to. Between his cash out that'll be well over 100K and two retirements ( Over 200K per year)he won't have to.
City's going to shit and we have Berry, Scultz, White and the two news boys in a court room frying a home burglar as we are now making a statement.
What a bunch of phonies.
Wow, that's kind of hard. "Eat a d__K"
Well they will have their upcomings that's for sure.
Any sightings of Darren and the Peaches?
WTF
There's a 'Gotcha" coming Darren.
Question is, which one of the three will be first.
i am so sick of seeing darren. he has to be front and center for every picture, media event, everything.
To City Employees; from Paul J. Heh. Learn from history" We must all hang together or,most assuredely we shall all hang separately".......Benjamin Franklin. GOLDEN PARACHUTES for city employees. How about what you as a city employee has earned over the years, what you were promised in contract after contract. What you have banked in vacation and sick by following the rules. How many of you have been denied vacation because manpower was short,or you came to work sick because of your sense of duty because you knew manpower was short. As far as Police and Fire how many holidays have you missed with your family because an excutive order was issued that that no-one for instance are allowed off for New Years Eve ECT,ECT. The politians caused this financial mess not hard working, dedicated city employees, but it seems like everyday you hear of another way politians are thinking of taking away what city employees have eared over years of dedicated service. Many of you have commented to be that you feel like you are the enemy in your own house, your house being the city. I know your worth and you should be praised, NOT TAKEN FROM! Police and Fire can DIE in the blink of an eye but lets take from them. The rest of you employees make this wonderful city run and you should be proud of the job you do. I am proud of each and every-one of you. THANK YOU ! Dont expect some one else to take a stand if you are unwilling to stand for yourself. If each and everyone of you dont stand together , then you all will be taken apart. I believe the CITY CONCIL will listen.IF they dont you have awsome power, that power is the vote. How many of you go out and vote ? Are you to busy and expect someone else to do it for you. Get involved it is your future and the well being of your family. The powerful only retain power when WE THE PEOPLE ALLOW THEM TO RETAIN IT.
Someone posted a history APD problems/problem cops going back a few years. You can view it on Albuquerque Craigslist under, local news and views.
I used to be a federal government employee and we were allowed to accumulate 30 days of leave forcing a use or lose situation. Sick leave could not be turned in for cash nor used towards retirement. Fed employees under the old system (CSRS) however could get credit towards retirement for any unused sick leave but not cash.
Same shit different day. Do as I say not as I do. The “golden rule” is more golden if you are high up on the ladder. This should not come as a surprise if you have been with the city for any length of time. Management will always take care of their own
barboa is expensive on my brain.
Paul Heh is absolutley right. I recently retired after 20 years of service and also cashed out. Not as much as the gents listed but it was deserved. I called in sick 5 times in 20 years. The sick and vaction was mine, thats why its called "personal leave." I now work in the private sector and just got a bonus at Christmas. I also get paid more $$ then the City pays. Leave Castro and the rest of the dedicated folks a break. They earned it. Stick together or you will lose it.
Be thankful that you are employed.
As for Paul Heh....you were pushing for Berry and now you have him. Bet you wish Marty was back. Retire and you will save the city over $100,000.00 per year. Maybe Marty will hire you.
Hahahah I Love the Barboa Comments. they Crack me up!!!!
Yes, that is really the golden rule.
BARBOA FOR MAYOR HE IS UNTOUCHABLE DIDNT YOU KNOW. IN HIS OWN MIND. ALL HIS TEAM DID IN THE SE WAS CLOG UP THE COURT SYSTEM WITH USELESS ARREST AND WHAT NO CONVICTIONS OR NOLLED CASES THAT WERE NEVER TAKEN TO GJ. MAYBE 1% CLEARANCE RATE?
pleassssse don't even joke about barboa for mayor. he's the devil.
if you only know half the trouble he caused. you'd be crying in your strippers arms. i mean barboa's stripper's arms. the damage he's done can never be undone. really. never. never. never. never. watch out. anyone who works with him/watch out. p.s. they were getting off on the adrenaline rush of arresting 23ers and thinking they are big cause they got a rock of a dealer. looks good on paper.
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