Pictured from left to right Mayor Berry and Rob Perry.WOW! Is all I could say when Sharon handed me this mornings Albuquerque Journal, the front page headline: Mayor gives Perry $33K raise to stay at City Hall.
WOW! What do you think? Good thing the Mayor election is over! Is this even nice? I mean the average Joe like you and me can’t even begin to relate to this. At FGGAM all we need is roughly $35,000 to $40,000 to operate this ministry for a year, and this guy gets a $33,000 raise?
In these times of economic depression I think this is a kick in the pants to tax payers. This is insult to injury. Dave McKay did the front page write up for the Journal and I am thankful for his reporting. Rob Perry is the man getting the $33,000 raise and I am sure Mr. Perry feels he is worth it, he was up for the top job at the New Mexico Finance Authority and the Mayor felt he was to valuable to the City of Albuquerque, so Mayor Berry gave him an early Christmas present, $33,000! That is enough for Albuquerque voters to choke on their grape-nuts this morning.
Timing is everything, and now is not the time for raises or salaries like this, it shakes people’s confidence. The American people are shook enough! That $33,000 is more than the yearly average income in New Mexico.
P.S. Some City workers have not had a raise since 2010. Mayor Berry: I voted for you, and can understand your desire to hang onto people that have worked very well with you and for the City, but now is not the time for individuals to be paid that type of money and to receive that type of raise. The disconnect between the average Joe and Jane with our government continues.
I have to add that my lovely wife Sharon is a nurse and they did not get raises, many deserving people are going without. I believe the Mayor will regret this, as this is the worst move by him during his time as Mayor.
Update: Just talked face to face with a City Worker who has been with the City for almost 20 years. He has not received a raise in 7 years, in fact his pay has been CUT during these difficult times.
We all seriously need to reconsider ‘term limits’ regardless of what good a politician may have done for us in their prior term. I admittedly voted for him and one of the reasons was his reported responsibility when handling the public’s money and turn around and get slapped in the face with this! We have military, police, firefighters, etc., placing their lives on the line daily who do not make what this ‘ADMINISTRATOR’ got in a raise alone! His priorities and loyalties have obviously taken a dive in the wrong direction. Almost looks like a ‘pre-planned payoff’ to me. Shameful !!!
Are you kidding me? This at a time when many people can’t afford insurance and will get fined for it. A vote of “no confidence” from me.
Kathy Garcia
Wow, really? and his total income is now 180,000$ a year? Um… No – not cool…
It pays to work for the government these days. Working in the private sector doesn’t even compare. Government employees can make as much as 20% more than their private counterparts.
I was speaking with a state employee the other day and she let me know that someone starting in her department makes $18 an hour, STARTING. Most new college grads are lucky to find a job that starts a little better than min wage these days. They actually do better going on govt programs than taking a job.
We wonder why most city governments are falling short across the nation, some even going bankrupt.
That’s a heck of payday for someone who doesn’t even face bullets everyday! Kind of like how the admin get so much more than teachers on a front line of education, yet still not empowered for smarter decisions! Well paid, I’d say overly paid!
Paul Holt, I would expect to make more than $18.00 an hr to pay for my college education, wouldn’t you agree? I happen to work with contractors from out-state with a well known cable company that get paid over 100k for less than 12 months worth of work, plus they don’t pay property taxes like the rest of us and take their money to spend back home (out-state). But we are not talking about Perry making $18.00 an hr, he will be making over 180k a year which is a waste of taxpayers money. I would like to know who in the private sector is making over $180k and compare jobs with Perry because this guy is a thief.
I would too. The reality is that in the real world people are not making that in most cases. When my son graduated from the University of Nebraska this May, finding a job that pay even $10 an hr was near impossible for him and his classmates. Fortunately, he is an entrepreneur and made his own way. But the rest of this year’s grads were not so blessed. Many were forced to take on gov’t programs or return to school.
I agree that Perry making $180K is more than wrong. This is why I believe government should be limited, because it is so much worse than this.