Slopping at the Public Trough--Claremont Employees

One thing that amazes the naif when going through the December 2006 City of Claremont pay stubs (See our "Labor Day" post below) is the inventive variety of ways the City employees have found to tap the public keg. We realize this post has its limitations--among them lack of context--but we are pretty sure no confidentiality or copyright issues are involved in merely listing most if not all of the "Earnings" categories found by reviewing all of the pay stubs.

Below, we list for your enjoyment all or nearly all of the categories we found, along with typical amounts paid. We tried to ensure that the amount listed was neither the highest nor the lowest we found, but was more or less representative in amount. All amounts are Year To Date for all of 2006 for a single (representative) employee.

This represents a compendium of more than 200 employees (for a city of 35,000). Where we are inclined, we make editorial comment. Don't expect anything too intelligent. Remember, we are not public employee compensation specialists; to hear the city tell it, we are low-life borderline criminals.

Admin Leave, $2,109.01
Admin Leave Mandatory, $1,006.50
Admin Leave Payoff, $2,291.08. We don't really understand any of these Administrative Leave items. And why would someone get an Admin Leave Payoff? Is a certain amount of Admin Leave a right?
Auto Allowance, $4,200. Lots and lots of employees get this. Amounts differ.
Bereavement Leave, $122.21
Bilingual Pay, $750.00
Comp Time Payoff, $1,612.02. If you don't use your Compensatory Time Off, looks like you get paid for it.
Comp Time Used, $3,209.73
Court 1.0, $451.08
Court 1.5, 1,224.91. Most of the policemen are smart enough to go to court when they get paid time and a half.
CPMA Longevity Pay, $5340.40. Lots of the senior policemen appear to receive this.
CRA [Claremont Redevelopment Agency] Board Comp, $600.00. For the councilmembers.
Education Incentive, $3,750.00. Knowledge must not be its own reward.
Family Sick Leave, $7,073.11
Floating Holiday, $1,328.17. We've heard of this, but no one we know gets this benefit.
Hol Payoff, $164.88
Holiday Pay, $1,540.43
Holiday Regular, $4,363.81
Incentive Bonus, $1,000. This seems to be like a signing bonus, but we aren't sure.
Jury Duty, $392.97
Motor Pay, $375.00. For riding that Harley.
On Call CS, $6740.00. Several policemen really score on this one. Not a clue as to what it's for.
Other, $7,227.98. Several employees got large amounts this way. Guess they had seven grand left over when the pay was handed out.
Other Pay-Correction, $1,768.40
Overtime 1.0, $433.35
Overtime 1.5, $11,956.63. What good is overtime if it can't be time and a half?
Part time Hourly
Part time w/PERS, $7,551.96. You can be part-time and still get the employee retirement system.
PD Reserve, $280
Performance Bonus $7,430.55. Oh, there were lots and lots of these; more in a later post.
Physical Reimbursement, $1,200. Reimbursement for running shoes and memberships at The Club. The Insider pays his own way.
Regular Pay, $57,638.40
Reg Training 105%, $32.98
Retro Pay, $4,437.92. This one is a mystery. Most employees get it. And it's usually hundreds or thousands of dollars for the year. The total over all of 2006 is very large. More later.
Shoot Pay, $95.47
Shoot Pay 1.5, $692.37. Again, most cops are smart enough to do their shooting when they are paid time and a half.
Sick, $2839.05
Sick Leave Bereavement $2,074.51
Sick Payoff, $950.93
Special Detail, $779.96. We think this is guarding the council meetings, and similar important duties.
Technology Reimbursement, $3,000.00. Usually $1,500 max, but one employee scored three grand.
Uniform Pay, $480.00
Uniform Pay/PERS. Do they pay retirement on your uniform?
Vacation, $9,634.51
Vacation Bonus, $1,748.97. What is this? Nice to get, though.
Vacation Part Time, $1,205.35. Maybe the same part-timers getting retirement also get vacation.
Vacation Payoff
Workers Comp, $33,277.96