Those making $100G continues to grow

LYNN – The number of city employees earning $100,000 or more has steadily increased over the years to 135 in 2007, up from 116 in 2006, 113 in 2005, and 70 in 2004.Of the 135 employees, 81 were police officers, 23 were school department employees, 19 were fire department employees, and 12 were City Hall employees.City Treasurer Richard Fortucci said an average of $2.7 million is paid out in salaries each week in the city.”Isn’t that sick?” Fortucci said. “The total amount paid would be about $150 million a year, but teachers are paid on a 42-week scheule and not 52 weeks like other employees, so more is paid out in the winter than the summer.”A total of 10 police officers, one city hall employee, one fire department employee, and one school official made more money than Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr., who earned $140,576.08 in 2007.Throwing his arms up in frustration, Clancy said the rising number of employees earning high wages is something the city cannot control.”It just won’t stop, and the percentages won’t be different than any other place because of the unions,” he said. “Municipal unions capitalize on the system and there isn’t any control over it.”In anticipation of a tight budget season, Clancy said the city has done a good job of keeping costs and property tax hikes within reason in the past, but continuing on the same path could prove to be problematic and layoffs could be in the cards for employees.”The state government has funneled money in to pay for salaries in the past, but they don’t have it anymore,” he said. “There’s always going to be some labor/management tension over how much money people make.”