Benson criticizes extravagant public employee salaries

On November 30, the Minnesota Subcommittee on Employee Relations (SER) held a hearing to discuss requests from Governor Dayton’s Department of Management and Budget (MMB) for waivers for public salaries that exceed state guidelines.

MMB requested maximum salary waivers for a total of ten public positions: eight positions within the city of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Parks Board director, and the city administrator of Eden Prairie.

“While we can’t stop MMB from moving forward with these salary increases, when taxpayer dollars are at stake we urge caution in the strongest possible terms,” said SER vice chair Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake). “Some of these increases seem awfully extravagant – does the Minneapolis Parks Board superintendent, a position that comes with access to a house at far below market rent rates, really require a $194,399 salary?”

Under state law, maximum compensation for employees of local governments or metropolitan agencies is 110% of the governor’s salary. The governor’s salary is $127,629, so without a waiver the maximum compensation for these employees is $140,392.

This limit can be waived with approval from MMB. These waiver requests must be presented to the SER, which can offer advisory recommendations only.

Here is the full list of salary waiver requests:

  • Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Superintendent requests a salary of $194,399. This is a salary increase of $27,441 from last year.
  • Minneapolis Chief of Police requests a salary of $200,000, an increase of $32,022
  • Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development director requests a salary of $184,139, an increase of $16,161
  • Minneapolis Director of Public Works requests a salary of $196,011, an increase of $30,427
  • Minneapolis City Coordinator requests a $200,000 salary, an increase of $22,683
  • Minneapolis Convention Center Assistant Coordinator requests a salary of $190,344, an increase of $16,989
  • Minneapolis City Attorney requests a salary of $190,000, an increase of $16,645
  • Minneapolis Assistant Coordinator of Information Technology requests a salary of $187,217, an increase of $19,329
  • Minneapolis Assistant Coordinator of Finance requests a salary of $185,000, an increase of $20,646
  • Eden Prairie City Manager requests a salary of $175,100, an increase of $5,100