Wheeler

Spotsylvania county administrator gets 23 percent pay raise

Date published: 7/12/2007

By DAN TELVOCK

Spotsylvania supervisors voted late Tuesday night to increase the county administrator's base salary by 23 percent, which makes him one of the highest-paid government executives in the region.

They came out of closed session shortly before midnight Tuesday and unanimously agreed to pay County Administrator Randy Wheeler a base salary of $173,265.12. His previous base was $140,456.

Supervisors said Wheeler performs under immense pressure in a county experiencing growing pains and they want to keep him so the county has stability for years to come.

"He's done an excellent job," said Chairman Chris Yakabouski. "He's also been underpaid in my opinion when you compare him to other localities."

Wheeler was hired in December 2003 at a salary of $125,000. Before that, he was the deputy county administrator in Fauquier County.

The vote Tuesday didn't change any other benefit in Wheeler's contract, which includes annuity and a monthly car allowance. Although Wheeler signed a two-year contract to June 30, 2009, his pay could increase again next year, supervisors said. The amount of his other benefits weren't readily available.

Supervisors also agreed to pay County Attorney Jacob Stroman $141,890 in base salary. The new salaries were retroactive to July 1.

"In order for us to make sure we keep him, we need to pay him more money," said Supervisor Emmitt Marshall. "The same thing happened with the county attorney. When he came here, his salary was $119,000. I thought he did a pretty good job, so we gave him a pretty good salary."

Supervisors gave mixed messages about whether they were trying to bring Wheeler's salary specifically more in line with school Superintendent Jerry Hill, whose base salary is $175,500. Marshall said Hill's salary is actually above $200,000 when benefits are added, but that could not be confirmed last night on deadline.

"How do you justify a superintendent of the schools drawing over $200,000 and a county administrator making about $141,000? It just didn't sound right to me," Marshall said.

Supervisor Vince Onorato said he didn't use Hill's salary as a comparison.

Stafford County Administrator Steve Crosby is paid $158,231 a year. Orange County Administrator Bill Rolfe is paid $140,874 a year. Fredericksburg City Manager Phil Rodenberg is paid $137,595 a year.

Supervisors approved a budget this year that provided all county employees a 2 percent cost-of-living increase and a 2.5 percent merit increases, for a 4.5 percent total increase.

During budget discussions, Wheeler recommended the county use a pay-for-performance system. But supervisors decided to test the new pay system with only county department heads and executives. They added $25,000 to the budget to try it. The budget states the range of raises will be between 5 percent and 6.5 percent.

"With the pay for performance, it's not going to be a guaranteed increase," Yakabouski said. "Before, it was."

Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the raises, with Gary Jackson and T.C. Waddy absent. Jackson didn't return a message last night seeking comment.

"He made some improvements so we paid him for the improvements he made," Waddy said.

Onorato said supervisors compared Wheeler's salary to many surrounding localities, including Fairfax and Prince William counties.

"It is not like we're a big county that is already stabilized," he said. "We are under a lot of growing pains right now and it takes a lot of dedication from out staff."

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Date published: 7/12/2007

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