We’ve all heard stories from across the nation in which a
bungling city government or local agency allows an official to pocket
ridiculous sums of cash and perks in a shady way. But the story coming out of
California this week may top them all.
bungling city government or local agency allows an official to pocket
ridiculous sums of cash and perks in a shady way. But the story coming out of
California this week may top them all.
An official is targeted for dismissal because she
routinely violated the Open Meetings Act. But the local board botches the
process of giving her the boot – ironically by failing to provide proper public
notice of their meeting – and is forced to pay her nearly $1 million in a court
settlement.
routinely violated the Open Meetings Act. But the local board botches the
process of giving her the boot – ironically by failing to provide proper public
notice of their meeting – and is forced to pay her nearly $1 million in a court
settlement.
The ex-official is quietly allowed to stay on the payroll
to burn off her unused vacation time and essentially got paid a six-figure
salary for doing no work throughout 2012.
to burn off her unused vacation time and essentially got paid a six-figure
salary for doing no work throughout 2012.
In the process, she collected bonuses and boosted her
pension – all the while never stepping foot inside her former office.
pension – all the while never stepping foot inside her former office.
Here are the details, as reported by the San Jose Mercury
News:
News:
A former official for the San Francisco area’s public
transit system raked in more than $333,000 last year without working a single
day.
transit system raked in more than $333,000 last year without working a single
day.
Under a lucrative retirement scheme, Dorothy Dugger, 57, former
general manager of the Bay Area Rapid Transit quietly stayed on the books,
even though she had resigned under pressure in May 2011.
general manager of the Bay Area Rapid Transit quietly stayed on the books,
even though she had resigned under pressure in May 2011.
 |
| (Dorothy Dugger) |
According to the Mercury News, Dugger was
allowed to burn off nearly 80 weeks of unused vacation time, drawing paychecks
and full benefits for more than 19 months.
allowed to burn off nearly 80 weeks of unused vacation time, drawing paychecks
and full benefits for more than 19 months.
The months of extra pay were in addition to the $920,000 Dugger was
paid to leave after the BART’s
board botched an effort to fire her by violating public meetings laws, the
Mercury News reported.
paid to leave after the BART’s
board botched an effort to fire her by violating public meetings laws, the
Mercury News reported.
“Wow,” said James Fang, who
tried to oust Dugger. “She’s still on the payroll? I did not know this. It’s startling.”
tried to oust Dugger. “She’s still on the payroll? I did not know this. It’s startling.”
The former manager cashed in more than 3,100 vacation
hours saved during her 20 years with BART.
hours saved during her 20 years with BART.
Many cash-strapped public agencies are now under scrutiny
for allowing departing employees to convert huge banks of unused vacation and
sick time into big cash payouts, but a little-known policy in BART’s rules for
senior managers like Dugger made her perk even sweeter.
for allowing departing employees to convert huge banks of unused vacation and
sick time into big cash payouts, but a little-known policy in BART’s rules for
senior managers like Dugger made her perk even sweeter.
Because she was allowed to drag out her vacation-bank
payments for months, Dugger received $138,000 worth of benefits, including
pension contributions and medical insurance — perks she would not have
received if she had taken her vacation payments in a lump-sum check. Since she
remained on BART’s payroll, Dugger also received an additional $98,000 in cash,
because she was still racking up vacation time and management bonuses — even
though she had no one to manage.
payments for months, Dugger received $138,000 worth of benefits, including
pension contributions and medical insurance — perks she would not have
received if she had taken her vacation payments in a lump-sum check. Since she
remained on BART’s payroll, Dugger also received an additional $98,000 in cash,
because she was still racking up vacation time and management bonuses — even
though she had no one to manage.
That alone exceeded the 2012 gross pay of almost
three-quarters of BART’s 3,340 workers, the agency’s compensation data shows.
three-quarters of BART’s 3,340 workers, the agency’s compensation data shows.
Remaining on BART’s payroll also added both time and
money to the calculations on which Dugger’s retirement is based — increasing
her pension payments by more than $1,000 a month for life. When her time on
BART’s books finally ran out in December, she began to draw a pension of
$181,000 a year.
money to the calculations on which Dugger’s retirement is based — increasing
her pension payments by more than $1,000 a month for life. When her time on
BART’s books finally ran out in December, she began to draw a pension of
$181,000 a year.
