1/31/2008 9:19:00 AM
Public salaries outpace private-sector incomes
There are 62 public employees making more than $70,000 in county
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| Source: Ohio Job and Family Services |
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The Times-Gazette
As private-sector wages in Highland County continue to trend below both the state of Ohio and national averages, and the county's poverty level is higher than the state average, The Times-Gazette this month began collecting information on salaries in the public sector.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Families Services, the per capita income for Highland County is $24,270 (2005 statistics). For comparison, the Ohio per capita income is $31,860 and the national per capita income level is $34,471.
The ODJFS labor statistics (available at http://lmi.state.oh.us/oes/oes.htm) by occupation for 2005-06 show the majority of Highland County private-sector jobs in the annual pay range of $25,000 to $50,000, with many occupations paying below $20,000.
The ODJFS lists 40 CEO positions in the county earning averages of $115,648 per year. Twenty industrial engineer positions in Highland County averaged $58,136 in annual salaries. Cooks, child care workers, landscapers and cashier positions all reported earnings of less than $20,000 per year.
In the public sector, the state average for teachers' salaries was $54,408. Education administrators averaged $87,048 in annual salary. The state average pay for a firefighter was $34,424 and $28,288 for an emergency medical technician and paramedic. Police officers and sheriff's deputies averaged $43,597 in yearly salaries. Accountants and auditors averaged $56,576 in annual salaries.
The following salaries of public officials in Highland County were collected by The Times-Gazette in January through public records requests. These salaries reflect 2007 earnings and include only those salaries of $70,000 or more. They do not include contributions to public retirement plans or medical benefits.
Highland County 2007
Public Officials Salaries
1. Sherry Stout, president of Southern State Community College*, $135,326 (*many SSCC employees serve a five-county region).
2. Kevin Greer, judge, Highland County Common Pleas Court/Juvenile and Probate Division, $121,458.
2. Jeffrey Hoskins, judge, Highland County Common Pleas Court, $121,458.
4. Jim Buck, vice president of Business and Finance at SSCC, $105,881.
5. Scott Wilson, former superintendent of Fairfield Local Schools, $104,963.
6. Jeffrey Stethem, captain and EMT of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $101,256.
7. Jim Grandey, Highland County prosecutor, $100,984.
8. David W. Snider, firefighter, EMT of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $100,307.
9. Robert Headley, faculty member, SSCC, $98,975.
10. Peggy Roark, faculty member, SSCC, $95,897.
11. George Carver, faculty member, SSCC, $95,736.
12. Louis Mays, faculty member, SSCC, $95,690.
13. Dora Davidson, faculty member, SSCC, $91,813.
14. Greg Hawk, superintendent at the Lynchburg-Clay School District, $91,664.
15. Virginia Ferguson, faculty member, SSCC, $91,307.
16. Art Reiber, superintendent of Hillsboro City Schools District, $90,000.
17. Carry Deatley, faculty member, SSCC, $88,934.
18. Michelle Williamson, principal of Lynchburg-Clay High School, $87,186.
19. Dan Strain, principal and EMIS coordinator at McClain High School, $87,111.
20. Robert Stroop, faculty member, SSCC, $86,539.
21. Brenda Tilton, faculty member, SSCC, $86,435.
22. Dee Wright, superintendent, Bright Local School District, $86,119.
23. Robert Amen, superintendent, Hills and Dales Training Center, $85,053.
24. Terry Fouch, superintendent of Greenfield Exempted Village Schools, $84,406.
25. Jeffrey Martin, captain, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $82,988.
26. Edward Puckett, firefighter, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $82,895.
27. Paul Dean Otworth, Highland County engineer, $82,772.
28. Teresa Grooms, faculty member, SSCC, $81,319.
29. William Horne, faculty member, SSCC, $80,401.
30. J.R. Roush, Whiteoak Junior/Senior High School Principal, Bright Local School District, $80,337.
31. Jeffrey Bain, firefighter, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $79,938.
32. Denise Decker-Flum, faculty member, SSCC, $79,183.
33. Jeffrey Anderson, treasurer, Hillsboro City Schools District, $78,970.
34. Julia Basham, faculty member, SSCC, $78,703.
35. Kathy Daniels, faculty member, SSCC, $78,557.
36. Ryan McCall, vice-president, SSCC, $78,008.
37. William Henry, faculty member, SSCC, $76,914.
38. Donald Storer, faculty member, SSCC, $76,586.
39. Julianne Krebs, coordinator of nursing at SSCC, $76,125.
40. Michael Shumate, principal, Buckskin Elementary, $75,917.
41. William Worpenberg, faculty member, SSCC, $75,626.
42. Marilyn Jones, faculty member, SSCC, $75,224.
43. Keith Pohly, adult services director, Highco Inc., $75,176.
44. Charles Gorman, faculty member, SSCC, $74,495.
45. Dirk Puckett, firefighter, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $74,339.
46. Diane Michael, director of elementary schools at Hillsboro City Schools, $73,813.
47. Margarett Free, director of special needs at Hillsboro City Schools, $73,813.
48. Richard Earley, principal at Hillsboro High School, $73,813.
49. Joni Minton, principal at Lynchburg-Clay Elementary, $73,674.
50. Michael Daye, principal at Fairfield High School, $73,133.
51. Marc Bayless, firefighter, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $73,119.
52. Carol Callahan, faculty member SSCC, $72,980.
53. James Taylor, principal at Rainsboro Elementary, $72,605.
54. Matthew Unger, teacher/adviser, Fairfield Local School District, $72,375.
55. Thomas Oglesby, teacher, Hillsboro City Schools, $72,035.
56. Jon Davidson, faculty member SSCC, $71,762.
57. Terry Flum, faculty member SSCC, $71,062.
58. Cynthia Williams, Highland County Common Pleas Court magistrate, $70,971.
59. Robert Coomer, superintendent, Hillsboro Water Plant, $70,825.
60. Cathy Laparl, faculty member, SSCC, $70,559.
61. David C. Snider, firefighter, EMT at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, $70,366.
62. Roger Zimmerman, director of personnel, Hillsboro City Schools, $70,000.
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Posted: Monday, February 04, 2008
Article comment by:
Lindsay D.
I understand part of the increase in pay is due to overtime however, it seems the majority of the Hillsboro fire service is on there is there not an alternative measure that can be taken such as hiring another employee to cut back on the overtime expense? I didn't notice any other departments from highland co. in there! I would love to see a salary comparison for all fire and rescue personnel in the county just to clear up any misunderstandings about other dept.'s salaries.
Posted: Saturday, February 02, 2008
Article comment by:
Jon Davidson
All faculty listed for SSCC are working long overtime hours and some are also performing extra duties. Normal salaries are much lower.
Posted: Saturday, February 02, 2008
Article comment by:
russ
Great public service to the taxpayer! Did these figures include overtime pay? If so, I can understand the higher salaries. Overtime can significantly increase anyone's pay. Thanks for the info!!!!
Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008
Article comment by:
Sid Raisch
Excellent reporting of public information the public should be aware of. This is the role and responsibility of a newspaper, in my opinion, and it will help keep taxes low. I hope you do a follow up story like this each year. Keep up the good work.
Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2008
Article comment by:
Alice K
These salaries should have been published a long time ago. All I can say is it's about time. Too bad you left out the hospital people. Maybe you didn't have enough space for all of them. But I give you credit, at least you named the people making $70000 and more. Next time put in the people making 50000 and above. Us taxpayers pay the bills and they always want more. Good work.
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