The details of government employment often defy common sense given that staffing levels, salaries and pension benefits are based on the power of municipal unions and politicians rather than on the normal efficiencies that rule private operations. We recommend an occasional perusal of the database Transparent California, where the public can view the eye-popping salaries and benefits often received by California public employees.
A recent investigation by this newspaper’s Teri Sforza found city staffing levels are equally incomprehensible. The highest-staffed city, on a per-capita basis, is the tiny industrial enclave of Vernon, which only has 222 residents. It has one worker for every 0.8 residents, which should theoretically make the city government rather responsive. But as LAist reported, the city was nearly dissolved in 2011 amid troubling governmental scandals. The city with the lowest staffing levels, Laguna Woods, also is an outlier as it’s a retirement enclave.
Yet some of the most responsive and well-run cities, including a host of safe and placid South Orange County cities such as Rancho Santa Margarita and Aliso Viejo, have relatively low staffing levels. Some of the most poorly run cities, such as San Francisco (No. 6) and Los Angeles (No. 49) have relatively high staffing levels. Then again, Laguna Beach is No. 8 and Big Bear Lake is No. 17. Maybe there’s a rhyme or reason, or maybe not.
The fundamental issues involve fiscal responsibility and tax rates. Unfortunately, California cities of all sizes and types are facing fiscal problems as federal stimulus funds have disappeared and inflation has increased. Some are looking to raise sales taxes. We recently opined on the city of Orange, which ranked in the middle for staffing (No. 268). It was recently warned that it faces bankruptcy in three years unless it makes radical change.
Our big problem is that cities often seem to function for the benefit of their employees, rather than as organizations that serve the taxpaying public. Until the incentive structure changes, expect staffing and pay levels to be as head-scratching as everything else that government does.
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