Two employees of the City's Construction Code Dept. enjoyed a $35/hour salary last year, at their department head's discretion, despite it being in excess of the salary ordinance for their jobs.
According to a report filed by the State-hired audit firm, Wiss & Co., the ordinance, which doesn't give an hourly rate, limits compensation for the two positions of $27,172.00. But during 2008, the two employees were paid $40,792.50 and $35,770.00 respectively.
The auditors recommended that ordinances for hourly employees contain hourly rates or modify maximum salary to conform with work load requirements.
The entire 86-page audit report, complete with photos of Asbury Park, is available from the Community Affairs Dept. web site.
Asbury Radio invites you to explore the report for what you may extract and post right here for others to read in the comment section to your right.
- The Voice of Asbury Park ~ matters vital to justice, environment, equality, culture and pursuit of happiness.
Showing posts with label savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label savings. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
City Advised to Rethink Health Insurance Opt-Out
The City of Asbury Park rewarded its employees who chose not receive the City-supplied health insurance package a total of $292,963 in cash last year (2008).
Not surprisingly, 28 employees took advantage of this "Opt-Out" choice last year. Ex: the City would pay out $22,878 a year for an employee with family coverage. If the employee opts out, the City pays him or her $11,439 a year. The City saves the same amount.
State-hired auditors, Wiss & Co., say it's great the city is saving like this, but recommend it consider reducing the reward to say, $2,000 or $5,000. This they estimate could save the City between $169,000 and $237,000 a year.
It also suggested the City consider requiring its employees to contribute toward their own healthcare. "...if the City's health insurance plan covered 275 employees, and those employees contributed $100 per month, the City would save $330,000."
Finally, the auditors note that one of the lawyers providing services to the City and several other municipalities, is receiving health benefits from the City amounting to $16,930 a year. They write: "The City should consider not paying the cost of health benefits of individuals, which by the nature of the services being performed, are providing professional services."
Not surprisingly, 28 employees took advantage of this "Opt-Out" choice last year. Ex: the City would pay out $22,878 a year for an employee with family coverage. If the employee opts out, the City pays him or her $11,439 a year. The City saves the same amount.
State-hired auditors, Wiss & Co., say it's great the city is saving like this, but recommend it consider reducing the reward to say, $2,000 or $5,000. This they estimate could save the City between $169,000 and $237,000 a year.
It also suggested the City consider requiring its employees to contribute toward their own healthcare. "...if the City's health insurance plan covered 275 employees, and those employees contributed $100 per month, the City would save $330,000."
Finally, the auditors note that one of the lawyers providing services to the City and several other municipalities, is receiving health benefits from the City amounting to $16,930 a year. They write: "The City should consider not paying the cost of health benefits of individuals, which by the nature of the services being performed, are providing professional services."
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