For Whom The Bell Tolls: City Manager Could Receive $13 Million in Pension Funds

Three administrators in Bell, California have resigned after the national outcry over their inflated salaries. Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo was found to be making $787,637 a year — roughly twice the salary of President Obama — to oversee a city of less than 40,000 people. Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia and Police Chief Randy Adams also resigned. However, it now appears that Rizzo is entitled to $650,000 a year in pension. It is not clear why the mayor and other officials have not joined the ranks of the recently resigned.

Adams was making 50% more than the chief of police in Los Angeles. He was pulling in $457,000 and Spaccia made $376,288 a year.

Adams could now claim more than $411,000 a year and Spaccia, 51, could claim as much as $250,000 a year. Spaccia would have to wait until when she reaches 55 however. She could then pull in $7,500,000 if she lives another thirty years. Even at 20 years, Adams could pull in $8,220,000. As for Rizzo, a twenty-year pension period would give him an additional $13,000,000 dollars.

The question is now whether these obscene salaries could be viewed as a form of fraud or racketeering. It would be difficult. People elected these city council members and Mayor who must have approved these salaries or did not seek to limit the salaries. If they did not receive kickbacks, it may be perfectly legal. The law does not protect people against the leaders they elect in the performance of discretionary duties. Moreover, since these officials will remain vilified for the rest of their lives, they have little reason to waive such pensions.

Source: Sacramento Bee