MARYSVILLE – A survey of the highest-paid public officials in Marysville shows school district Superintendent Becky Berg No. 1 at $186,702 a year.
The city of Marysville, however, has the most high-paid administrators, led by Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima with an annual salary of $183,456.
Police Chief Rick Smith and Public Works Director Kevin Nielsen tie for second at $162,468 each.
Making $156,468 each are Parks Director Jim Ballew, Finance Director Sandy Langdon and City Attorney Jon Walker.
Community Development Director Dave Koenig is next on the list, making $144,000 annually, followed by Human Resources Director Kristie Guy at $135,540.
Three police commanders round out the Top 10 for the city, each making $135,468 a year.
Mayor Jon Nehring is down the list just a little ways, at $127,919.
In setting the mayor’s salary, the city’s Salary Commission compared his position in six other cities. Bremerton was the smallest at 38,000 people, and that mayor earns $8,916 a month. The largest city compared, Renton, with 97,000 people, pays its mayor $11,767 a month. Marysville’s population is in the middle of that, at 64,940, and so is the mayor’s pay, at $10,451 a month.
The Association of Washington Cities did a survey in 2015 regarding pay.
Even though Kent and Renton are much larger, their CAOs make more than $500 less per month than Hirashima. However, the city closest in size to Marysville, which is Sammamish, with a population of 61,250, pays its city manager, a position with similar duties and responsibilities, $100 more a month.
For police chief, Smith makes more than the chiefs in Everett and Kent, even though those cities are much larger, but less than the Redmond chief, who serves 60,560 residents.
Behind Berg in the Marysville schools there is a five-way tie for second place, all making $151,049 a year. They are Chief Academic Officer Scott Beebe and five executive directors: Ray Houser, assessment/student services; Lori Knudson, secondary; James Stevens, SPED; Michael Sullivan, finance; and Jason Thompson, human resources.
Four others round out the top 10, all making $129,497 a year. They are directors: Pamela Sanford, second SPED; Donneta Oremus, CTE; Ginger Merkel, elementary SPED; and Anthony Craig, equity, access and school support.
