But 15 months after Solano County supervisors approved the creation of a county executive management team, some are wondering whether taxpayers have received all the bang for the buck promised them. Supervisor Skip Thomson said recently. High on Thomson's list of disappointments is the fact the county continues to employ managers whom he said are failing to pass muster. In exchange for these raises, top managers agreed to give up their civil service protection and be accountable to County Administrator Michael Johnson for their performance or lack thereof. If they're fired they can file an appeal in court,'' said Johnson of the at-will county managers.
Some department heads enjoy even more protection.
Take Health and Social Services Director Don Rowe, who has civil service protections despite being part of the executive management. Supervisors Thomson, Bill Carroll and John Silva also voted themselves a 41 percent pay raise when they formed the management team last year, despite strong public criticism. To make sure they would not be subject to such criticism again, supervisors tied future raises to those of judges. Whenever the state of California gives judges a pay raise, supervisors also get a raise, no questions asked. Their pay is indexed at 46 percent of a judge's pay.