Politics & Government

How Much Employees In Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District Earn

The state controller's office has released a 2011 study on salaries and benefits received by county, city and special district employees

The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District has the 333rd highest average employee salary among the 1,508 special districts listed in a new public pay study.

The state Controller's Office has put the 2011 salary and benefits information on a website. It details city, county and special district payrolls.

The average salary for special districts across California was $54,468 a year. The average salary for the Contra Costa Mosquito District was $45,825 a year.

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The district officially has 60 employees, but 22 of those are unpaid board members and three others are assistants who made less than $13,000 in 2011.

Without those 25 workers, the district's average salary is just under $80,000 a year.

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Here's an overview of some of those numbers.

2011 Salary Study Contra Costa Mosquito Special Districts Employees 60 67 (average) Average Salary $45,825 $54,468 Total Wages $2.7 million $5.5 billion

Here's the top 10 wage earners in the Contra Costa Mosquito District for 2011. The employees are listed by position only.

The salaries include regular pay, overtime, lump sums and other payments. The benefits and pension are what the district contributed to the employee's plan.

Employee Salary Benefits Pension General Manager $153,010 $14,985 $3,890 Operations Manager $110,066 $14,985 $2,814 Administrative & Finance Manager $102,076 $19,081 $3,099 Scientific Programs Manager $101,744 $8,157 $3,250 Public Affairs Manager $99,404 $1,329 $3,025 Information Technology Technician $89,292 $1,329 $2,876 Programs Supervisor $87,332 $19,081 $3,643 Biologist $87,332 $8,157 $2,380 Programs Supervisor $86,530 $19,081 $2,948 Mechanic II $85,341 $14,985 $2,401

The district, formed in 1927, serves 725 square miles with a population of more than 1 million people.

It's responsible for the control of mosquitoes, yellowjackets, rats, mice, ticks and skunks.

The board of directors is made up of representatives from each incorporated city in Contra Cosa County as well as the county at large. They are appointed by city councils and the county supervisors.

Deborah Bass, the district's public affairs manager, said many of the district's specialists have master's and doctorate degrees. Many of the technicians are state certified and trained.

Bass said their primary responsibility is preventing diseases carried by animals from being spread through the county.

Last year, the district battled the West Nile virus that was carried by mosquitoes and birds.

This year, they're keeping a close watch on the Asian Tiger mosquito, which is in Southern California now and carries dengue fever.

She also notes the district has been financially conservative during the economic downturn. In some cases, employees who have left have not been replaced.

"The district is a very prudent place. I'm proud to work here," she said.


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