MROSD criticized for general manager’s salary

Despite what it described as a tough budget year, the Midpeninsula Open Space District (MROSD) has increased the salary of its general manager, Craig Britton by 11.4 percent to $165,420, retroactive to March. In a harshly-worded unbylined article, the Merc says,

Hassett, who owns Palo Alto Hardware and Ocean Shore Hardware in Half Moon Bay, said the raise reflects merit pay for a job well done. Still, he said, Britton makes less than other similar public officials, citing a study the district did.

Trouble is, the only two parks managers in the survey who made more than Britton have much larger departments. East Bay Regional Parks General Manager Pat O’Brien makes $167,316, for example. While Britton manages 80 employees and a $23 million budget, O’Brien has 677 employees and a $130 million budget. Same story for San Jose’s city parks department, where Director Sara Hensley makes $173,000, and has 736 employees and a $149 million budget.

Even U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein makes less: $158,100 a year.