ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997 TAG: 9703270064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO WHAT'S ON YOUR
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: In February, you printed the salaries of the top 10 Roanoke city and county officials. Please continue the story and tell us what the whole package is worth for these people including insurance, pensions, travel to conferences and other perks.
W.C., Roanoke
A: Listing the top 10 salaries was easy. Benefits packages are more complicated.
Here's a general idea of local government benefits packages, based on executive-level people earning $100,000 a year in the city and county.
The Social Security contribution is 7.65 percent, or $7,650.
Roanoke's pension plan likely will receive an amount equal to 10.5 percent of the city payroll next year, so a portion based on the executive's salary would be $10,500. (Pension benefits are decided by a different method when they're paid out, though.)
Health insurance in Roanoke can cost the city up to $159 per month per employee, or $1,908 per year. Most workers use it. Family coverage is paid out of the employee's pocket.
Dental insurance is $9.46 per month or $114 per year.
Long-term disability protection is 25 cents per $100 of salary, and 90 percent of employees use it. For the executive that comes to $250 per year.
To this point, the city has spent $20,422 in benefits for the $100,000 executive.
Vacation and sick leave are an expense, too, although they're paid through salary. Presuming the executive is off for two weeks during the year, the time is worth $3,850.
You also ask about travel perks - which isn't the word used by people who take the trips. They call it training and development.
No matter which perspective we may bring to this point, these travelers are expected to work on city business and show some results when they get back.
Roanoke allocated $365,601 for training and development this year - 0.2 percent of a $152 million budget.
Some departmental categories: City Council had $14,500 for training; city clerk, $2,800; city manager, $10,122; city attorney, $8,471; director of finance, $18,000; real estate valuation, $6,500; municipal auditing, $7,200; Police Department, $50,000; and Fire Department, $35,187.
In Roanoke County, the benefits for a $100,000 employee break down this way:
Social Security, $7,650; pension contribution, $11,810; health insurance, $275 per month for family coverage or $3,300 per year; dental insurance, at least $152 per year. The total is $22,912.
County travel (oops, training) costs substantially less than the city's because people rarely travel farther than Richmond, according to Anne Marie Green, public information officer.
Private employers usually pay unemployment insurance. Roanoke city self-funds this coverage, as do many other large employers.
Two-term governors
Q: Virginia does not allow a governor to succeed himself, but Gov. Mills Godwin repeated as governor after sitting out two terms. How many governors have repeated in this way?
K.G., Bedford
A: Godwin is the only governor to be elected twice since Virginia began choosing governors by popular vote in 1852.
Before that, the state legislature chose the governor.
Patrick Henry served three-year terms starting in 1776 and again in 1784. William Smith of Fauquier County served in 1846 and in 1864 through the end of the Civil War.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Maybe we can find the answer. Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RAYR@Roanoke.com
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