Council OKs Pay Raises for Department Heads

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved pay raises for department heads despite charges that its action ignores the city’s fiscal woes and increases the wage disparity between managers and rank-and-file workers.

The merit pay increases will cost the city $55,000 for the 13 department heads receiving raises this year, and will be augmented by a 5% cost-of-living increase next month. “This is a very irresponsible way of treating the people of Los Angeles,” said Councilman Ernani Bernardi, who joined Nate Holden, Joel Wachs and Zev Yaroslavsky in voting against the motion, approved 10 to 4. Under the merit pay schedule, department heads who receive an “A” grade will receive a 6% hike; those who receive a B will get 4%, and those with a C will get 2%.

Bernardi argued that the salaries of city department directors are skyrocketing, citing the fire chief as an example. In 1984, the job paid $106,341 a year. Today, it pays $153,656.