The same morning Mike Wasserman was sworn-in as District 1
county supervisor he, along with Santa Clara County’s four other
supervisors, voted unanimously to reduce benefits for about 150 top
county executives that will save $1.1 million this year from the
county’s dismal $272 million budget deficit.
SAN JOSE – The same morning Mike Wasserman was sworn-in as District 1 county supervisor he, along with Santa Clara County’s four other supervisors, voted unanimously to reduce benefits for about 150 top county executives that will save $1.1 million this year from the county’s dismal $272 million budget deficit.
The vote came Tuesday morning with a $5 million catch that brought out dozens of county workers representative of the Service Employees International Union Local 521. In order to cap the vacation accruals, vehicle allowances, increase medical co-payments and other savings, the county must go through with the current contract and pay out its most-paid employees $5 million worth of unused vacation days.
“I looked at this and interpreted this as honoring a contract,” Wasserman said Tuesday before casting his vote. He officially took office Tuesday morning after being sworn-in. Wasserman was chosen by voters Nov. 2 to represent District 1, which is the largest district in Santa Clara County, encompassing Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy. He most recently served as a member of Los Gatos’ city council.
“I think, for myself, it’s a move in the right direction. I think it’s very important. Perhaps is wasn’t presented in a way that was as clear as could be. I would think the community at large whether they’re represented by their unions or the community in general would applaud the fact that the board is honoring existing contracts and trying to make changes to save for the future,” Wasserman said.
The move is an effort to save the county millions over the long-term, but some county workers were upset that top executives were receiving cash payouts at a time when their salaries and benefits were being slashed or raises were being deferred.
The board will take a final vote Dec. 14 to reduce bankable vacation accruals from 117 days to a 36-day cap per year. So, the county must pony up the cash for up to 81 days, which will cost at most $5.1 million. The exact amount depends on how many holiday, sick and vacation days each employee has accrued. From now on, employees will be able to cash out 18 days if they accrue 36 days over the course of a year.
The $5 million payment will be spread over three years instead of a one-time transaction, though the four employees who spoke before the board on behalf of SEIU were unsatisfied with “spending $5 million to save $1 million.”
The change that will affect elected officials, physicians and other top-paid county executives will increase medical co-payments, eliminate Kaiser co-payment reimbursements, reduce vehicle allowances from $500 or $600 to $400, eliminates take-home vehicles and employees must increase their contributions to their pension and health plans.
The county’s 20 highest-paid employees are all doctors at Valley Medical Center, earning anywhere from $337,000 to as much as $439,000 a year.
