In this article Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio defends his vote to give Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos a 33 percent raise of ,000 bumping his salary from 7,000 to 5,000 a year.

Here are some articles about that ,000 pay raise the members of the Phoenix City Council voted to give to Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos.

Source

Into the mind of ... Sal DiCiccio

Dec. 22, 2012 12:00 AM

The Republic | azcentral.com

The Phoenix City Council member [Sal DiCiccio] explains why City Manager David Cavazos deserved a large raise.

Your vote for City Manager David Cavazos' 33 percent raise was a surprise. How much flak are you getting?

Some. David has been an outstanding manager. The council knew this would be a tough decision, but it was correct. Citizens have every right to seek answers; it's their money.

Look what we accomplished last year, the plan for the future, and then decide if it was right. The pay increase was partially based on his accomplishments, but more importantly we created specific performance measures ensuring structural change and reforms.

It is no secret government reform is my No. 1 priority. For Phoenix to compete in a global economy, a new structure is required. We need the right quarterback who can move the ball. David is Phoenix's franchise player.

You made your mark looking for every possible cut. Why did you think the pay increase was justified?

Significant government waste has been cut, and we are going to do more. Here are specific reforms and savings passed this year alone: We created a best-in-the-country 24-hour model -- businesses big and small can get permits and begin operations within 24 hours. Other cities take 6 to 8 months. We had no property-tax or rate increase, no water/sewer increase, while other governments raised them.

Phoenix was the first government to adopt zero-based budgeting, guaranteeing transparency. We have the largest-ever "rainy-day fund" ( million) and cut million per year, including significant red tape.

Those were great accomplishments, but the future demands more, and performance measures for David will ensure long-term structural changes:

1. Save: 0 million per year. 2. Job creation: Cut more red tape by expanding the 24-hour model. 3. Customer service: All departments move to 24/7 operations and be known for it nationally. 4. Personnel reform: Move from entitlement structure to pay for performance. 5. Continue increasing the rainy-day fund.

What do you say to people who note the median household income in Phoenix is barely more than half the additional pay Cavazos will receive?

With million in the rainy-day fund, million saved through innovations and efficiencies and 7 million deficit erased, we have seen a 7 million shift since David took over.

You've pushed to reduce red tape at City Hall. How is it going?

We're winning big! Big and small businesses can now start operations in Phoenix in 24 hours, in what took 6-8 months, making Phoenix the best place nationally for business.

This summer, we will move to electronic and instantaneous permitting.

What else is on your plate?

Council members Thelda Williams, Michael Nowakowski and I are working together to make domestic violence a top priority for Phoenix, as it was when I was on the council in the 1990s. We want to make Phoenix the best nationally.

Nowakowski and I have been working on a plan to improve trade with Mexico, our biggest and underexplored partner.

Cavazos, Councilman Jim Waring and I are working to change Phoenix's culture to be customer-focused and be the first nationally to adopt a 24/7 model for our departments.

I have been working hard with Valley cities promoting the 24-hour job-creation model. Imagine if our entire region was known for this.

This is unreal. Often these high salaries are justified with rhetoric about competitive markets for salaries, but that is SUCH BULLSHIT. 20 years ago, the salaries were not that high. 100k or so, if that in small cities. The median salary has risen around 10k in that time period. It used to be around 35k and now it's around 45k, or a 30% rise.

So the new salary should be around 130k to 150k.

The reality is, there really isn't competition in the upper reaches of the labor market. There isn't really a market, because these jobs are filled primarily by people acquiring degrees, and through connections (by going to specific schools that help you get connections). That isn't a market in the classic sense. It's cronyism. It's always been this way. Maybe it works.

Whatever the case, there is no competition in salaries, and people must demand more strongly that salaries be cut. If there are objections, then, let them leave. They are free to resign. Where else are they going to get paid to be part time politicians and part time administrators? Well? oh. nowhere. ha ha ha.

There will be little calamity, and this is why: networks of cronies can always be rebuilt with new talent. In any of these institutions, some portion of the power come from the incoming executive, and some portion from the institution; the institution usually has the greater power, but people today think the individuals possess the power. That's why there's so much worship of CEOs, of politicians, and other leaders.

I don't know how we got here. Is it because big companies were bought in LBOs, and then broken up? Is it because of the mistrust in the government?

The state of California should start by capping and cutting salaries for top administrators at UC and CSU. Cut their staff budgets too. They should not be wasting time designing new logos and cutting deals with companies. Their foci should be research and education.

City government should cap city staff positions to 5 for city manager, and downward. Budgets for city attorneys should be capped. City Council members should make no more than an hour for their service. It's a fucking cushy job with lots of "important meetings". Well, once all the other officials are moderately paid, with a greater number of newbies in these bureaucratic positions... the meetings won't be so important.

There's always risk due to huge amounts of money that private businesses have, so one easy way to deal with this is to raise municipal and state taxes on corporations and salaries. We already have high ones, and there's always this bogeyman of businesses leaving - but they don't seem to leave. So jack up their taxes 30% at the top, and around 15% above 200k.

Not so rich now, eh? And all us peasants and peons can get a little break on our taxes.