As I was perusing the salary data, I was alarmed at the massive wage increases over the past 4 years in the city attorney’s office.
First off, this is an 8-5 job unlike private practice and I can guarantee if you are a private attorney in Sioux Falls you ain’t pulling this much and you are likely working 60+ hours a week. But what else is astonishing is our city attorneys are rarely litigators. The city pays out MILLIONS each year in outside legal counsel and is constantly defending suits due to their lack of transparency, maybe this is why they pay them so well? Not sure, but when I was talking to some minion city employees about this recently their heads were about to explode. Some if not most of these attorneys were getting almost a 40% raise in 4 years! That is 10% a year! No for profit corporation gives out those kind of raises. I also find it ironic that all the assistant attorneys make the exact same amount instead of based on case load or experience. Very odd. We also have to look at sales tax collection over the past 4 years, not even close to the 40%! All salaries come from 1st Penny sales tax revenue. This is just blatant fiscal corruption on the mayor’s part (he can give any amount of raise he wants to). I hope the next mayor goes on a termination spree and gets the city’s management salaries in context with economic realities. And the ones that have a problem with it and go get a job in the private sector, preferably in a different town. There is also the irony the mayor cutting library hours and MCC while handing our ridiculous raises NOT based on performance.
Allenstein, Keith E Senior Assistant City Attorney $123,572.80-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459
Bengford, Paul M Senior Assistant City Attorney $123,572.80-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459
Engel, Amanda W Senior Assistant City Attorney NOT EMPLOYED-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459
Golden, William H Senior Assistant City Attorney NOT EMPLOYED-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459
Pfeifle, David A City Attorney NOT EMPLOYED (Outgoing salary of former city attorney was $180,000-(23) $217,360.00-(24) $227,219.20-(25) $236,371.20 4 YEAR RAISE: $56,370
Attorney Laurenz, Cheryl F Senior Assistant City Attorney $123,572.80-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459
Attorney Leonard, Karen A Deputy City Attorney $147,971.20-(23) $180,481.60-(24) $186,804.80-(25) $192,400.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $44,429
Attorney Sage, Ryan J Senior Deputy City Attorney $123,572.80-(23) $154,752.00-(24) $160,160.00-(25) $173,700.80-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $50,128
Attorney Schlimgen, Catherine A Senior Assistant City Attorney $101,025.60-(23) $125,840.00-(24) $137,051.20-(25) $148,137.60-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $47,000
Mulder, Amber L Senior Assistant City Attorney NOT EMPLOYED-(23) $145,433.60-(24) $150,529.60-(25) $162,032.00-(26) 4 YEAR RAISE: $38,459