What we have here are two sides at odds. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on one side and the employee unions on the other. The board began talking about pension reform and the unions took that as a threat, so they used a massive petition drive to lower the Supervisors Salaries to $60 Thousand from $120 Thousand and office budgets to $1.5 Million from $3 Million.

Mr. Neil Derry and Janice Rutherford actually think you’re going to buy the line that they are trying to give you more control over their salaries. Everyone from Public Safety, Teachers, Construction to Office workers public and private have been making concessions and or losing their jobs.

Lets use my family for example:

I lost my job as a irrigation specialist with central school district in Rancho Cucamonga, I was laid off to save money from budget cuts. 4 months later my job was given to the husband of the lead secretary in HR at District office. I was working and building the pre-school program at Calvary Chapel Rialto and had been told I was going to be the director I spent over a year going to Community Care Licensing meetings filling paperwork and putting together a program from the ground up. I had a active waiting list of 60+ parents waiting to enroll their students, I even used my own resources to have one of the top Special Education Experts with high qualifications in Early Child Development do obersavtions of multiple Special Ed students who’s parents wanted to move their children from the County Pre-School Program and into a private setting. I had the license and clearance to open the center one week prior to my layoff date. What happened the pastor gave the position to another person with fewer qualifications. So I ended up on unemployment and found a job in Security making much, much less than I did before. We had to use my wife’s medical which was more expensive and she got furloughs and Medical Benefits’ increases thrown at her every year. We make less combined than one of these supervisors will make if the unions petition passes.

Just recently news of hidden money and bloated staff salaries has hit the news. Along with state polotitions staffers getting raises, Local Legislators tried to make it easier for us to swallow by saying these people work hard and haven’t received a raise in years. So what who cares, who has received a raise since 2008? Time and time again people are lucky to keep their jobs let alone get a raise.

Our elected officials have become way to comfortable with being politions. If the founding fathers could only see them now.

Janice Futherford claims that the supervisor’s competing ballot measure will cap supervisors total compensation at what Riverside County Supervisors make. Who knows what their total yearly compensation is? Here it is from Janice Rutherford herself:

“According to a survey the County conducted in 2011, Riverside County Supervisors receive about $225,191 a year in salary and benefits. However, I need to note that the survey is based on some estimates and may not include every benefit the Supervisors receive. If voters approve the proposed ballot measure, the County will be required to conduct a full and complete survey of salary and benefits paid to Supervisors in the comparable counties.”

I like the unions ballot measure better. I think the supervisor’s time should be focused on balancing the county’s budget, REAL PENSION REFORM and finding ways to attract new types of revenue to bolster our lack luster financial system.

Plus why should a polotition make more than a Teacher who not only needs at least a four year degree but has to take 2 state tests to get a credential to look for a job then another 2 years to clear that credential with more college classes and seminars.

Our local, county & state officials sit on commissions and boards. No education needed and they rely on staff to instruct them on how to vote.

Below is the actual ordinance that the county created to keep their jobs as a full time over priced body.

CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012, ITEM #72 – Adopt ordinance relating to County Charter Amendment Forty to enact a permanent cap on compensation and mandatory transparency for members of the County Board of Supervisors, calling an election thereon, consolidating said election with the General Election, and giving notice of final dates for submission of arguments. (Affected Districts: All) (Presenter: Gregory C. Devereaux, Chief Executive Officer, 387-5418)

Below are various comments from supervisors that responded to our questions in writing:

Supervisor Neil wrote: “The vote was unanimous. The other measure was written by Bill Postmus, and then the unions, who don’t want pension reform, paid for the signatures. The board approved item lowers our pay to what Riverside County provides.”

Janice wrote: “We unanimously placed a measure on the ballot to: 1) give voters control over our entire compensation (not just salary as current law & the union measure do, but benefits, too), 2) brings our compensation in line with similar counties (unlike current law that spikes pay by including L.A.) and would result in reduction of our current pay, 3) maintains voter say on the pay if the other county elected officials (which the union measure eliminates). ”

Supervisor Josie Gonzalez

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your questions. In response to your concern, at the Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting on July 24, the County Administrative Office presented an ordinance that would amend the County Charter (Item 72 on the BOS Agenda) to place a cap on the salaries of Board Members. It was continued to the August 7th BOS Meeting- Item 60 on the Agenda. All 5 Board Members approved the ordinance and it will be placed on the General Election ballot in November. For your convenience I have attached the link for the Clerk of the Board website where you can review the minutes and agenda for these meetings ( http://www.facebook.com/l/FAQELpV36AQH88s4g4Maha32j6cYEGZjCKB-IEaScjowYmg/cob-sire.sbcounty.gov/sirepub/). If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office and my staff can assist you.

I am glad I could assist you. I am not sure about the salaries of the Supervisors in Riverside County. As I do not want to mistake you, I have attached the link to their Board website.

http://www.countyofriverside.us/government/boardofsupervisors.html

Thank you.

Its not personal its business and we need to start being more responsible when it comes to our local politics. Our cities, County & State have been left in the dark for far too long. In Supervisor Derry’s district you have James Ramos running for the board seat.

Why would a multimillion dollar Native American want to get into our local politics? In Supervisor Josie Gonzales District we never have a formidable opposition candidate because the area has mentally checked out when it comes to voting. The number of registered voters that actually vote isn’t very big, the numbers of people who vote with an informed mind seems even smaller.

We need to send a message to our elected officials that were done with high taxes, massive deficits, out of control budgets, lack of responsible pension reform and out of control government salaries.

Please feel free to comment here and tell us what you think about this move.