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More money for rat warriors, despite worsening economy
November 21st, 2008, 6:30 am · 11 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
The employees of the Orange County Vector Control District - an entirely separate, independent and low-profile government charged solely with keeping you safe from rats, mosquitos, fire ants and the like - will enjoy raises of 7.5 percent and other benefit increases over two years, costing an extra $390,348.
The district’s ENORMOUS board of trustees - an unwieldy tribe of 35 drawn from local cities and the County of Orange- voted 21-6 to hike the pay and benefits on Thursday, even though said increases won’t go into effect until July 2009, and expire in July 2011.
Costa Mesa City Councilmember and vector trustee Wendy Leece voted against granting the raises. “For me, it’s a timing issue,” she said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate at this time to give benefits and salary increases to employees until we see the whole financial picture, and we’ll have a much better picture in March than we have now.”
So, why the rush? Politics, really.
“In December, I have 16 of my 35 trustees whose terms are up, and I don’t know if they’ll be reappointed,” said Vector Control district manager Gerard Goedhart. “This is the board that should be considering this proposal, knowing what has been accomplished by these employees. If I have a significant number of new trustees, I’m starting from scratch on what it’s all 
about.”
Ah.
So the Vector Control District has some 54 employees and will spend $12.8 million keeping loathsome creatures and the diseases they spread at bay this year. We are sure the employees are all very hard-working and well-deserving of a raise.
But it’s the bigger picture logic thing that hounds us. The county has a department of public health, charged with keeping disease at bay. Much like the Vector Control District. Why doesn’t Vector Control become part of the county? Wouldn’t that make more sense? Might that be more efficient?
“It’s been this way for 60 years,” Goedhart says. “That sort of thing has been studied by the grand jury and they said, leave it the way it is. Being pat of the county wouldn’t be any better, if you know the financial condition fo the county.”
Perhaps now you see why Vector Control - along with the Orange County Cemetery District - are among The Watchdog’s favorite local governments. I mean, who even knew they existed?
Goedhart takes some offense. Apparently, the district polls residents about its performance. “We have a 94 percent approval rating for our agency,” he says.
‘Course.
To check out the district’s agenda and get more info on the pay raises, see item number 9 here. You can find the district’s http://www.ocvcd.org/docs/Budget2008-09.pdf.
Because of how special districts like Vector Control are funded, they’re not so subject to the cruel economic ebb and flow that often cripples our state government. Many special districts build up very cozy nest eggs - Irvine Ranch Water District had $1 billion in the bank - and The Watchdog will be digging around in Vector Control’s financials in the coming weeks.
Until then, avoid the roof rats.
More Watchdog:
- After priest scandal, Catholic Diocese’s financial rebound is heavenly
- Hoag, CHOC hospital execs earn more than $1 million each
- OC charity for burn victims burns donors
- OC Scouts leader’s pay rose while revenue fell
- AIG junket - the movie! Bailed-out execs luxuriate on tape
- AIG subsidiary parties in style in OC, two weeks after bailout
- Yet another AIG subsidiary parties hearty days after bailout
- High-flying AIG subsidiary gets to play with Uncle Sam’s dough, too
- Truth or dare? AIG ordered to bare all its secrets
- Should feds have let AIG go bankrupt?
- Bailed-out banks ordered to reveal executive compensation
- AIG suspends controversial executive payouts worth millions
- God’s quid pro quo?
- Earthly kingdom: Trinity’s $167 million in real estate
- Crusading for ‘Judeo-Christian values’ doesn’t come cheap
- OC Scouts leader’s pay rose while revenue fell
November 21st, 2008 at 8:54 am
vote selves a raise? silly… but then I’m sure most people would. why have that kind of system?
I’m glad they can take care of our vermin and mosquitos however.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:05 am
We live at the edge of a never to be developed “wilderness” area. Last summer we found a for-real rattlesnake in our back yard. These snakes appear during the warmer months but not with frequency.
Vector Control was called on a Sunday afternoon about 3:00PM. They arrived in 30 minutes ready to scoop up the snake.
I call that good service. If these folks haven’t seen a raise in a while then, from our limited perspective, I’d give it to them. The raise expires after 2 years so they will have to continue to perform.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:05 am
why rats
sure theyre nasty but thats if theyre not tamed and why are they allwaysed blame 4 things
its the disgusting humans fault that do things that attract them
if they dont want them there then they should learen 2 not be filthy maybe thatll change something
just dont provide a home 4 those things 2 want 2 be at u idiots cause then ull have to go killing
November 21st, 2008 at 9:12 am
Another non-news story from the muckrakers.
Special Districts or Joint Powers Agencies, are formed to more efficiently operate a specific function that overlaps jurisdictional boundaries. Typically we have water districts, sewer districts, and yes vector control, because the water all comes from one place, and is distributed throughout the district to each of the member cities. Likewise the sewage all goes to the same treatment plant. So it only makes sense to address the insects and rats using a special district/joint power arraignment. The rats and bugs can not read, and do not know where the city limits are.
Because each member jurisdiction is entitled and required to have representation on the Board, there are 35 members. Nothing sinister there.
Perhaps the watchdogs should look into how many cases of west nile virus or malaria we have had; and how many cases of bubonic plague? I don’t recall stories of our cities being overrun with vermin—so what is the real problem? I suspect it is just another slow news day for the OCR.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
TerI:
You are always welcome to come to the District and review our financials. Over the past four years the District has actually reduced its operating budget when adjusting it to inflation. I would welcome you to compare our expenditure growth to all other public agencies, including the City of Costa Mesa.
I would also welcome you to compare our past salary adjustments and current salary structure with other public agencies in Orange County. You will find that the District has been very responsible.
In your article you also failed to mention the District has reduced its benefit assessment paid by the property owners for the past four years.
The employees of OCVCD have been outstanding in their service to the citizens of Orange County. The District has received an approval rating of over 90% in our annual survey for the past four years, including a 94% rating in the 2008 Survey. In addition, the District and its employees response to Orange County being the epicenter of West Nile Virus resulted in an infection rate that was 90% below the rate of Kern County, the epicenter in 2007.
You may enjoy being derogatory towards our agency by calling us “rat warriors”, but the fact is the Distrcit performs a valuable service in protecting the health of the Public and we perform our service in an highly effective and professional manner. Personally, I think you lose creditbility when you write in such a manner.
By the way, you also failed to report that I personally refuse a raise for myself for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. My sole purpose in proposing the salary and benefit package was to recognize the outstanding performance of my employees and to assist them in keeping up with inflation. By the way, the salary adjustment for the two years was 3.25% each year and 1% towards benfits. Your figure of 7.5% plus benefits is not accurate.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:22 am
How nice, I wish I could vote myself an increase in pay…!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Since they can vote themselves raises it cannot be said that they are on a fixed income…like everyone else.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:20 am
As I see it, if these people are essential and highly skilled and there is some risk of them leaving for a better paying job, then there is no choice but for them to receive a pay raise. However during this time of financial crises and shrinking state and local budgets, all of these things must be true in order to give anyone a raise. I haven’t had a raise in 5 years working for the government. In fact, two of the last five years I received a pay cut, when it was restored, some people referred to it as a raise which it is not. During this time my health care insurance costs have also increased four-fold. Everyone is suffering, I hope these people appreciate what they are getting, because almost no one else is.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
They want to get rid of that sweet lil mousie in the flowers?
November 21st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Is your headline intentionally misleading? I believe that the board of trustees approved a paise raise for the employees - not themselves. Your article seems to contain many inaccuracies. You have lost credibility with this reader. Because I cannot believe that the content is correct, I will not read further articles.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Because of the very poor journalistic skills and shock jock tactics of these writers I do hope that Teri Sforza and Tony Saavedra are not getting raises anytime soon. Maybe to better use the talent the should apply for jobs with Jerry Springer.