Arizona is facing a budget deficit of half a billion dollars which will rise to a billion next financial year. It is the second last state to generate new jobs after the Great Recession. In order to mitigate the problem, no doubt crucial parts of the state’s budget like educational aid, etc. are sacrificed. Now considering this situation of the state, it’s definitely not a good time to give retention bonuses to already highly paid staffers. But Republicans have their own theory.
As per reports, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer gave out over $180,000 in bonuses, with?$10,000?going to 10 separate people, eight of whom are already making $125,000 a year. This means that the Governor paid bonuses to people who are already counted among America’s top 10 percent wage earners.
The top 10 beneficiaries (not in order) of this policy are as follows:
- Steven Olea (Utilities Division Director) ? The Corporation Commissioner must have found his performance so distinctive that he was given a 21.5% raise. This meant $150,000 per annum.
- Laurie Woodall (Special Assistant) ? Corporation Commissioner Susan Bitter Smith gave her a raise of $10,500 which makes her salary $94,500 at present.
- Thomas Galvin (Special Assistant) ? Seems the Republicans think all special assistants need to feel special. Thomas Galvin was given a $10,000 bonus. His current package stands at $99,501.
- Kathy Peckardt (Deputy Chief of Staff) ? Her pay was increased from by 18% which brings the current figure at $165,000. Over and above this, she got a $10,000 bonus as well.
- Scott Smith (Chief of Staff) ? After a 9.4% increase, his current pay stands at $175,000. He got a $10,000 bonus like Kathy as well.
- John Arnold (Budget Director) – After the raise, John enjoys an annual salary of $147,000. The budget director has probably managed his budget quite well if not the state’s.
- Joe Sciarrotta Jr. (General Counsel) – His current package is $143,325.
- Michael Hunter (Policy Director) – His current salary stands at $139,125 when the average salary for policy directors in the US is $78,971.
- Andrew Wilder (Communications Director) – His salary is $135,000. The average salary for communication directors in the US is $69,076.
- Donald Hughes (Deputy Policy Director) – He get $125,000 an year when the average for a Policy Director in the US is much less than what he gets.
These staggering figures are salaries of Brewer’s workers. No doubt this form of legal corruption will continue under her regime. It up to people to vote for anarchy or a people centric leadership.
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