SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock on Sedona city employees salary and additional compensation packages budgeted for 2024.
Sedona AZ – WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2024?
Boldly and sincerely stated in a video at the opening of City Council meetings is Sedona’s Vision:
“To be a city that is constantly vigilant over the preservation of its natural beauty, scenic vistas, pristine environment and cultural heritage. To be a city that retains its small-town character and creates its manmade improvements in strict harmony with nature. To be a city that is animated by the arts, and lives with a spirit of volunteerism to help achieve our common goals. To be a city that offers equal opportunities for all and fosters a sense of community. To be a city that welcomes and accommodates all of its visitors and future residents with a spirit of fellowship. To be a city that retains and enhances a strong and vital economy which preserves existing lifestyles without exploiting the natural beauty. To be a city that lives up to the challenge of proper stewardship of one of the earth’s great treasures.”
Before proceeding with what may or may not be a surprise to Sedona residents via a Freedom of Information Act, “Douglas Ducey in 2021 was employed in Arizona Governor’s Office and had annual salary of $95,000 according to public records. This salary is 20% higher than average and 36% higher than median salary in Arizona Governor’s Office.” (Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million and pays its City Manager $314,999 annually.)
With the city of Sedona gearing up to prepare its fiscal year 2024 budget, a review of the 2023 budget shows that average budgeted compensation for a city employee is presently $106,174. (Population of Sedona is 9,684 – a decrease from previous years.)
Here is what we pay Sedona city employees:
City Manager Karen Osburn: $183,000. (No change from 2022.)
Deputy City Manager Joanne Keene: $161,850. (A 7.9% increase from 2022.)
City Attorney Kurt Christianson: $155,235. (A 7% increase from 2022.)
Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works J. Andy Dickey: $155,147. (A 7% increase from 2022.)
Director of Financial Services Cherie White: $153,422. (An 8.4% increase from 2022.)
Chief of Police Stephanie Foley: $135,200. (Foley replaced Charles Husted, who retired last fall; the chief position’s salary is an overall 2% decrease from 2022.)
Magistrate Judge Paul Schlegel: $125,008. (No change from 2022.)
Director of Community Development Steve Mertes: $125,000. (No change from 2022.)
Criminal Prosecutor William Kunisch: $120,443. (An 8% increase from 2022.)
Director of Wastewater Roxanne Holland: $119,061. (A 9.6% increase from 2022.)
Information Technology Manager Chuck Hardy: $117,830. (A 6.8% increase from 2022.)
Assistant Director of Public Works Sandra Phillips: $114,660. (A 4% increase from 2022.)
Human Resources Manager Brenda Tammarine: $114,354. (A 7.6% increase from 2022.)
Transit Administrator Robert Weber: $110,850. (A 10.9% increase from 2022.)
Engineering Supervisor Kurtis Harris: $103,000. (Position vacant in 2022.)
Police Lts. Karl Waak and Scott Martin: $103,000. (A 13.2% increase from 2022. Martin is a new hire, replacing the retiring Sgt. Michael Dominguez.)
Network Engineer, unspecified staff: $102,615. (A 5.6% increase from 2022.)
System Administrator, unspecified staff: $102,614. (A 5.6% increase from 2022.)
GIS Analyst, unspecified staff: $102,014. (A 5% increase from 2022.)
Additional benefits over and above wages include, but are not limited to health, dental, and vision insurance coverage plus countless hours of paid time-off; as offered in ads seeking even more City of Sedona employees.
And this, dear readers, is active even during the uncertainty of a predicted economic recession next year.
Impressive?
Suggestion: Reread the “Vision Statement” and then decide.
President Trump announces possible deportation of criminals, if they have families, I think pack Them up and say goodbye at the border.
Grew up when if you bear children you and
your spouse or partners Chose Your Path.
No sympathy or empathy for stupid Border jumpers and women don’t have sex with gangbangers or illegals and produce kids who won’t get separated from families.
Find jobs at local papers like this. Jobs are coming back to America under Donald Trump. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for bringing woke stupids to unemployment lines. Word of advice Eddie and Sedona Times, keep it lean and mean and no need for woke.
Democrats mission was destroy integrity, Biden kept Kamala the Vapid from office and likely saved planet ok exaggerated but felt could be more right when he banishes Pelosi publicly?
Democrats don’t respect the will of the people. Democrats couldn’t win outright, so now, they’re trying to steal this election and the House Majority. Democrats have no ability to self reflect because they’re Marxists and Maoists and Stalinists and Bolsheviks and Communists and Socialists and Castroists and Antifas and above all they are Narcissistic Traitors who will destroy America because they don’t think people have the right to differing views.Believe when you hear it said by people from Pakistan and Colombia and Chile and Poland like my family members and Californians are awakening from
their anarchist narcissistic disorders.
Our American born children @Gupta are DNA rich Finnish and Chinese mixes with each of our three sons marrying Americans: spouse one is Peruvian and Mexican, another is Scottish and Egyptian and Laotian, another is English and Greek, each born and schooled in three different states. One set of grandchildren is Catholic, another granddaughter is Nazarene Protestant and the youngest set are Buddhists. Every day seems a holiday in our family we would have it no other way. This glorious country on earth allows freedom of association, expression, reproduction, religion, education is the United States. Sedona Eye American Eyes see and hear multi culturalism applauded when globally nations value culture sameness. USA’s the beacon of light for humankind to embrace freedom equally, not identically and it must demand respect. Thank you @Gupta it inspires here to rethink and to rereason.
Live Laugh Love not trendy
Biden Harris policy drove eggs up 50.5 % over last year and they’re still blaming Trump saying prices fell from 5 years ago a blatant lie again by morons with Trump Derangemenf Syndrome.
They’ve Biden Blinders Bonkers Syndrome good riddance ya losers.
Congratulations to Mr. Scott Turner, 52, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development who lead the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during President Trump’s first term was selected to be a member of the 47th President’s Cabinet in its new term.
IMO First order of business for HUD Secretary Turner is demanding resumes of HUD management (and Acting) now on HUD.gov site serving as notice that HUD will be reorganized (required) and subject to new job reviews and performance evaluations under DOGE guidelines and early retirement plans now offered for all employees choosing to exit by year end 2025.
Termination notices must go to Nancy Pelosi’s daughter Alexis Pelosi’s senior advisor for Climate position at HUD. An unnecessary politically created position (paying $200,000 approx) under HUD and or its reorganization, includes any and all staff assigned supporting that position.
HUD Support staff Employees with 5 years of full time experience in their respective positions may reapply for government positions under the new DOGE reorganization or if qualified choose an early retirement option based on 2024-2025 anniversary dates.
Have at it Sec. Turner and be great!
Jack Smirh drops all charges against Trump clearly political not legal charges that’s UNAMERICAN, now Alvin and Fani need the boot
Sedona Dems are haters, misogynists and hypocrites, they can’t figure out why they’ve lost or what is wrong with Joe and Kamala
Hospitals are overwhelmed with government provided healthcare for everyone but those who provided the funds to the government (tax) and schools don’t have enough English speaking students to make teaching possible but babysitting the true job, and reality is it’s paid for by compassionate taxpayers. Free healthcare isn’t free because money isn’t virtual, it’s an asset that belongs to me and you not elected officials.