“Money makes the world go around…
… that clinking, clanking sound…” (YouTube video) Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey in Cabaret, “Money, Money”
Today, the state of California launched a Web site at which Californians can see how much money both cities and counties pay their workers. Dozens of municipalities have FAILED TO FILE 
the information and could face fines of up to $5,000 unless they comply. The website was created by State Controller John Chiang in response to the salary and corruption scandal in the city of Bell. (Note added October 26, 2010: The former police chief of Bell is now accused of “quashing an internal investigation.” He earlier resigned and filed a whistleblower lawsuit.) People can search for the salary, pension benefits, and other compensation for more than 594,000 city and county employees throughout California!
My, my, my! THAT certainly should “stir the pot!” And just in time for elections, too…!
The LATimes article quotes Chiang:
Next, Chiang is requiring 828 transit, waste disposal, fire, and police protection special districts to provide the same information by December 13. Chiang will expand the Web site, by June 2011, to include payroll data on the other 2,535 independent special districts. The Web site lists 66 cities and counties that had not met the requirement for submitting payroll information.
Late in the day Monday, the city of Long Beach submitted the information to the controller’s office, citing a format difference in the data as the reason for the delay. Cities that have not submitted filings include Calabasas, South El Monte, and Vernon. (Note added October 26, 2010: Read about the most recent plan to “disincorporate” the city of Vernon, amid new charges of corruption.)
The Los Angeles Times has created its OWN data base of city manager compensation.
Some states in the U.S. probably cannot even IMAGINE this level of disclosure, but hey… that’s California! (Imagine how ANGRY everyone would be if corporations did this!)
-Bill at
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