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WEST JORDAN -- The debate over the proposed 40 percent tax hike in the Jordan School District is not dying down. Taxpayers still don't think the school board has done enough to cut costs, especially when it comes to administrative salaries.
The Jordan School District superintendent makes more than $237,000 a year--more than any other superintendent in the state--and his salary is where taxpayers think the district should start slashing first. That message was made abundantly clear at Tuesday's "Truth in Taxation" meeting.
"We need to see you cutting before you cut anywhere else. You are paid more than any other superintendent of school in any district," said South Jordan resident Carol Brown.
| **Salaries of school district superintendents** |
| District | Salary | \# of schools | \# of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | $237,373 | 51 | 48,621 |
| Granite | $212,341 | 85+ | 68,075 |
| Salt Lake City | $197,397 | 36+ | approx. 24,000 |
| Canyons | $175,000 | 44 | approx. 33,000 |
| Murray | $165,331 | 10 | approx. 6,000 |
And Warren T. writes, "Most people who have been in the same line of work for 38 years don't make that much. If the superintendent doesn't get a pay cut, he can find a job elsewhere."
But, is really a good idea to cut the superintendent's pay? KSL 5 News asked compensation consultant Alan Miller. He says while it might be a good move politically, it doesn't make much sense if the district wants to keep its superintendent.
"If I'm going to reduce my employees pay, I need to keep in mind that may make it more palatable for that employee to begin looking for work elsewhere," Miller said.
At the same time, Miller says if reducing pay is a matter of making a good business decision, then it should be considered. The Jordan School District contends it's not.
"You're looking at several hundred dollars, and that's not going to add up to $33 million very quickly," said Jordan School District spokeswoman Melinda Colton.
In all fairness, Jordan District's superintendent was over the largest school district until just recently. Still, when comparing his salary to others, it begs the question: Should his salary be re-examined now that the district is smaller?
"It's impossible to say--without collecting the appropriate data and without the appropriate analysis--whether the superintendent salary should be reduced based on the reorganization. We want to make sure that regardless of the situation, regardless of the changes in the organization, that the superintendent is paid equitably for his contribution to the organization and that his salary is competitive," Miller said.
Miller says if he were to re-examine the superintendent's salary, he'd look at the breadth and scope of his responsibility, his financial accountability, his problem-solving skills, and what others in comparable jobs are making.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
