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.
https://youtu.be/1poKT0rSxgk
You can’t call that an insurrection. You can call it a political reaction by white conservatives. Like they call Antifa when it riots and no one gets arrested because they’re white liberals reacting.
Cultural Park must remain undeveloped. EVER. City’s poll numbers explain it, that’s it or this council won’t be elected dog catchers.
don’t care about vacation rentals neither should you
*you call police if even think people shady loud drugs breaking laws bad people noise lewd make you uncomfortable on your property with party or something of that kind
*don’t need reason for calling police when problematic for neighborhood *be sure to register complaints with rental companies or send certified complaint to home owner (name addresses online) about their behaviors
*bad renters get bad reviews online they won’t be allowed to rent
*call city and complain about owners renters
Blessed Palm and Easter Sundays and Passover Week
Our names shouldn’t make a difference one way or the other. We happen to be victims of vacation renters and find it appalling.
No they really aren’t “loud” and whether or not they are “shady loud drugs breaking laws bad people” remains unknown. @Sedona Donna
What we do know, for certain, is the constant turnover is annoying and most assuredly violates our subdivision’s original CC&R restrictions which specifically indicate “single family residences”.
And that’s the way it was prior to the obnoxious former Gov. Ducey displaying his authority to wipe out Sedona’s restriction of short term, vacation rentals.
We are constantly aware of the change by neighborhood walkers, gawking at our properties which, in itself, is an invasion of privacy. The very integrity of our subdivision has been violated.
Why bother to “call city and complain about owners renters” when the list of their own unresolved blunders continues to grow?
Pedestrian crosswalk at Tlaquepaque? Constant rezoning of properties for higher density development? Millions of $$$$ to the non-professional local Chamber of Commerce for unrealized “destination marketing?” And the list continues to increase . . . future development of the Cultural Park acreage?? And what next?
Love Sedona better when weather nicer
Organize a group to oppose council actions, stop being manipulated by city powerful.
lack of a proper 179 crosswalk is insanity and poor staff engineering with no reason that the roundabouts arent used as pedestrian crossovers like every city like Flagstaff or Phoenix or Scottsdale or Palm Springs you go to has it worked out that way except for Tlaq influencers and it can be stopped and changed to roundabouts
Today Donald Trump is being arrested and the American justice system is now officially and globally a joke because Hunter has classified information given to him by his father and Hillary scrubbed e-mails rather than turn them over to DoJ. That said, Sedona better get its act together financially before their records are scrutinized and audited by the government. Norway joined NATO today and WWIII against China, Russia, Korea, Iran and others feels closer. City better worry about clean water and how to get fossil fuels stored.
There‘a no law and order in America as even CNN Democrats are saying this case is ridiculous and the DA is delivering on a campaign promise not the law. This DA should resign. I’m offended by the term white collar crime, it’s falsely exclusive and belittling to POC and I just fired a lawyer this week for including his pronoun preference on his signature line with his letterhead tag about a small unrelated matter. I don’t need lawyers who will be so insecure with himself or those he works with that he needs to advertise his political agenda on his office paperwork – don’t need someone who walks on eggshells if conflicting opinions are around him. Attention – there are two genders, male and female, and whomever you want to act as, well, that’s free choice and have at it, because 99.9% of us don’t care.
Tell DA Braggart he can send everyone home now after spending 2 million dollars today for a $125,000 tax payback scenario that never developed. He’s made himself a jester tool for Soros and groupies. Trump is on his plane back to Florida after an hour. LOL
Am laughing at NYC. It’s a slumyard of slum dwellers spawning slummers and the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This state law office and its District Attorney are climbers without morals. No one should hire any attorney in the future associated with this office until it’s cleaned up by a new DA.
All that’s been done by the District Attorney has been to prove Donald Trump right about the law’s politicization.
Pretty Sedona!
Yep just like January 6 no Trump supporters or MAGA hat wearers or flag wavers rioted today when Mr. Trump was arrested. True Americans allow the system to work honestly and fairly. True Americans don’t tolerate racists and bigots and usurping the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The law enforcement agencies fed by the Beltway Bicoastal Democrats are so far removed from American reality that they fail to understand mostly all Americans are law abiding citizens believing in American liberties and ideals and just want the government to keep the peace and enforce justice with blind eyes.
This is not what left wing progressive communists and socialists hiding within the Democratic Party want. They want to do the opposite and incite violence and overthrow of a peaceful society like Russia is doing in Ukraine. Democrats we must purge our souls of false standard bearers and win an election without employing fraudulent means. Come to Sedona and sit under our stars and listen to sounds of peace and harmony if that’s what you seek but never come here with discontent and hatred. Our people are intolerant of that spinning of our universe into discord.
SKeith
tourists spin Sedona universe in discord
good words & good advice
Yes please don’t come to Sedona with hate and discord…. As you can see from the above comments as there is enough that is here already from Sedona’s residents that post here in Sedona Eye.. Seems like most hatred is not coming from the left it coming from the far right…Inthink it was the far right people that tryed to overthrow the govt on Jan 6…. I leave the space below for more BS comments (deleted by editor)
Disagreeing with city spending funds on stupid and unnecessary nonprofit pork, patterning themselves after the federal government and chasing other jurisdictions monies. Infrastructure spending here is a must need because we talk about it and occasional comments make it on here even pointing out back and side roads are in bad shape. City tax money aligns with replacement and repair of bridges and roads and we can leave federal money on the table. Get it done.
Sedona has plenty of city ass kissers @@Sedona Keith et al and you manage to stand head and shoulders above the multitude. Next you’ll be standing on Roadrunner holding a sign begging us to vote for them.
Hallelujah it’s Easter week. Pray for all. Sedona, church and sunrise services are being made available all over this community and others for you. Know that He is Risen indeed. Hallelujah, Jesus is the Son of God and He died for our sins that we may have everlasting Peace and Grace within our hearts and minds. Let’s feel God’s love and compassion and be renewed by it.
Thank you soooo much for your gracious invitation to add comments underneath your snarky input @@Sedona Keith et al. However, how can one possibly exceed your own negativity? Is it possible your intense anger is reflected in your lack of writing skills? (grammar/spelling)
Pot calling the kettle black?
In COMPLETE AGREEMENT
God Bless
Heads up Sedona.
All of Sedona has Rural Mail Carriers.
Recently, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been rolling out its Rural Route Evaluation Compensation System (RRECS). The system came about after a disagreement between the USPS and rural post office workers about how much they should be paid for mail volume. RRECS was the resolution developed by the two parties and an arbitrator, with much of the language surrounding its rollout focused on its intent to “modernize” the postal system.
In practice, however, it has frequently meant less pay for rural USPS employees. One user on Reddit claimed that their pay went from “$65,000 to $47,000.” Others have claimed substantial increases in the amount of work needed accompanied by a salary loss of almost $8,000.
Now, a postal worker and user on TikTok is sounding the alarm about the new payment system, saying that many co-workers have walked off their jobs.
I don’t know if this is happening in Sedona, but I have not received my mail today and the whole neighborhood has had issues with misdelivered mail and missing mail. I was told there were new temp workers, but after reading the above quoted article I seriously doubt it
This is just more issues coming from the bad economic policies of the Biden administration. As Biden continues to close banks and cut programs, you can expect to not only not get your mail, but soon any federal funded program to be gutted.
The sooner we get rid of the demonic Biden administration and it’s hateful policies the better.
@dorothy hit that one out of the park
Archie mentioned mail issues and Biden admin has thoroughly undermined the postal service per its workers and that’s from almost everyone you take time to chat with including meddling locally to make workers feel undervalued and worry about pensions. Unacceptable Mr. Biden in Washington DC and Gov. Hobbs in Phoenix. Next election this Independent is voting Republican because Republicans support the postal system every single President and even Mr. Obama slashed its budget when the postal service is one of the most called rungs up from poverty in cities and rural communities. Unacceptable that lowered standards undermined again our people of color and our middle class economy.
Wake up Sedona in 2024. Joe Biden thinks American taxpayers should be responsible for paying for illegal immigrants. When their countries let us in without borders and provide us with a job, free housing and food and cell phones and best in world global medical care free of charge, then maybe the taxpayers have done more than their fair share already. We offer asylum when asked and that’s enough until they prove they’re honest and hardworking future citizens of this great nation. We owe the world no apologies for our charity or our opportunities here in America because we’ve provided the rest of the world with the fruits of our knowledge and labor and died protecting them from oppression. Stay where you are and make it suit your wants and needs because imagine if all the millions of Mexican and South American people had stayed and changed Mexico and Venezuela from the oppression of socialism despots and progressive governments.
@george.
Amen
Well – maybe – just “maybe” we will have better decisions made by city council because we have – YES – some new faces. Already a change of direction has been indicated (attitude relating to city/chamber love affair). And with some sort of logic being displayed it might be possible to anticipate clear thinking.
One year ago there’s no doubt in my mind those in power would have been delighted to display their power by rezoning the Cultural Park as Sedona Site for Housing the Homeless. Joan(s) of Arc reincarnated?
But – on the bright side – the present majority just might be listening to the voice of the residents? Where there’s hope there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy Easter!
It’s Good Friday of 2024 Easter week and we’re celebrating good lives blessed with family and friends and sending God and Christ’s love to all. Renew your faith and find peace and hope because what a blessing to live here and in Arizona and this great nation. God bless you and it’s a gift to say it publicly without fear of attack and to our Jewish family and friends, may Passover be a joyous celebration of G-d’s renewal and steadfastness of his Chosen people.
believe when lights at the end of the tunnel for now its smoke and mirrors could be they paid attention to election & polls & posts @@sylviag or AG interest
You did not win…
Property Taxes coming next… Of wait, the VoC has No Police protection, anyways.
Win? Loss? Why do you keep tossing property taxes in on this and other on-site conversations? You seem hellbent on wanting property taxes, because why? A possible why is that you know property taxes are fiscally unnecessary and you like to make false arguments to further false narratives? Let’s bounce the ball back to you mshobert and false narratives begin with the win or loss pitch about police?
“Property Taxes coming next . . . ” @mshobert
Well guess what. Sedona “property taxes” will require voter approval. In fact, during initial attempts for voter approval to incorporate “City of Sedona” the main reason for failure was the subject of Sedona “City” property taxes.
It was only when the ballot measure specifically stated there would be NO city property taxes that voter approval made incorporation happen.
Therefore if and when the issue of property taxes (city) again arises and Sedona voters are dumb enough to approve it by ballot vote, then so be it. However, it simply isn’t an enforcement that can be decided by seven elected people.
Hope that helps.
VOC has no protection police protection anyways? @mshobert What in the world does that have to do with incorporated Sedona? As a community outside City Limits VOC has NOTHING to do with City of Sedona policies. Are you still even a resident here? Do you even live in Arizona? Do you live in Sedona? If not, why do you remain so concerned about Sedona issues?
NEW TESTIMONY CONFIRMS BALLOT TAMPERING IN 2022 ARIZONA ELECTION! Democrats told us the 2022 election was the “safest” and “most secure” election in U.S. history. But the evidence is clear… and it should scare the life out of every red-blooded American who gives a damn about our country.
– 275,000 untraceable ballots
– Tampered ballots
– Election officials lying under oath
Go on the record & DEMAND investigations into election fraud now, Sedona citizens.
Get woke ever, much?
Keep drinking the koolaid Linda!!
You’ve been duped by the Kid my liar…
It appears to be a sad situation. Apparently what ISN’T in store for 2024 is peace and harmony.
Why must this divisive discontent continue on and on? The bottom line is that we are all human beings who live and will die. Yes that is correct. We will ALL DIE whether we are Republicans or Democrats.
The lust for power and wealth is destroying this country. Please don’t let it control little Sedona in the process.
Just for a change why not agree to disagree when necessary?
You’re a fool thinking I drink koolaid when your lips are rimmed bright blue.
Your lips gots something else on them Linda and it ain’t koolaide.. It’s the same thing in your head instead of a brain
AZ Election Update::
It has been highly reported that the Arizona Gov election results are fraudulent. As it turns out that the republican candidate Kari Lake was the the true winner!! Reporters have underturned facts the the ballot machines, when a ballot was cast for lake….. was changed to Hobbs by UFOs circling the state changing all republican caste votes to Hobbs. There will be a complete audit by an independent company called….. Alien Ninjas.. Lake will be the announced winner by the end of the month..
*It was only when the ballot measure specifically stated there would be NO city property taxes that voter approval made incorporation happen.*
If that’s it then tell city to put it online at its website to be read.
@NK – why don’t YOU “tell city to put it online at its website to be read”?
It’s never been a secret that Sedona has no CITY property taxes.
Property taxes we pay are assessed and benefit programs from the COUNTY in which we live. (Yavapai or Coconino)
Check out your own property tax bill in the event you are a Sedona city property owner.
@marlowjones imo lust for wealth isn’t destroying this country, it’s giving power to lazy low IQ people without demanding consequences and fixing their poor decisions
Like the city.
Ballot tampering seemed rampant last time according to new evidence being released in courts, destroying our steadfast American belief in democracy. Note to government powers trying to destroy our belief, it will never happen. Let’s get on with making Sedona an American wonder and not a cheap tourist trap. Let’s make America proud to be able to visit her red rock beauty because that’s what’s in store for 2024 thanks to people like Eddie Maddock. Thank you, ESM, for writing great articles to remind us to be ever vigilant. Keep it up for many years to come.
Oh please do tell us about the ballot tampering!!?? Every time you amplify false claims you compromise democracy….. that you so say you love so much…. Don’t be a “tool”
@@crw you’re defending ballot tampering anonymously? btw courts ruled
On ballot tampering: Maricopa County investigated themselves and found themselves to be innocent of any wrong doing. Lake won, Hobbs works with the drug cartels to keep the border open and fentanyl continues to kill Americans.
(Deleted by editor)
Still waiting for you article about ballot hampering.. by the way, you’re posting anonymously also duh
Not to worry about year 2024, Folks. City Council is presently working on a solution to curb wild life in the area. Most of us are smart enough to refrain from putting food out for them. But those who do – shame on you. And rightfully so.
However there are the radical folks, many owners and occupants of short term/vacation rentals, who freak out at the sight of a javelina! YIKES & OMG – WHAT IS THAT?
Well, short of forcing residents to refrain from even hanging hummingbird feeders and/or other devices for feeding birds (seeds fall to the ground and attract wild animals) apparently they will allow water devices (maybe decorative fountains or something) – even though – Heaven Forbid – Bambi might take a sip.
Too bad the people bringing this issue to City Council didn’t live here when open range prevailed. Back in those days cows had the right of way. Yep – if you hit one in the highway or in the parking lot at Poco Diablo or elsewhere – you owned it! And now you might get fined if a neighbor, permanent or temporary vacation renter, makes a complaint if they see a coyote, raccoon, deer, fox, and so forth roaming through a neighborhood?
Too bad for the National Wildlife Federation or other organizations supporting conservation of wild life. And incidentally, NWF does NOT support feeding them. Their criteria primarily calls for maintaining native plants and, yes, providing water.
So prepare to see abolishing Sedona wildlife on the City of Sedona’s agenda for 2024. Better yet, get rid of residents and tourists who want to see our true “natives” banished from the area.
Too much government? Maybe not but apparently some people simply have too much time on their hands and they are NOT necessarily among the seven people elected to represent those of us who live in the City of Sedona on a full time basis.
Thanks Wm D.
(Deleted by editor) . Keep stirring the imaginary pot.. is that the only way for you to feel relevant? Asking for a friend.
Why are you so annoyed if anyone other than yourself “keep(s) stirring the imaginary pot. . .” A Mi da T? The way newly elected members of city council seem to be “trending” it looks like many of us in Sedona already have substantial support which has been sorely lacking for too may years.