Gary Gallegos
Job title: Executive director, San Diego Association of Governments
Job description: "The executive director should be proactive, rather than reactive and make him/herself available to individual board members. The ideal candidate will be forthcoming, honest and a skilled communicator with the ability to foresee and respond to issues/concerns of the public and the board of directors.
"He/she should have knowledge of state politics and practical experience affecting policy change. The board seeks an individual capable of positioning SANDAG as a regional leader and managing internal and external change. … Should have the ability to allocate limited resources in a cost effective manner and travel as needed on behalf of the organization."
Work location: "Mr. Gallegos' principal place of work shall be located in San Diego, California, or such other location as the parties may agree upon from time to time."
Salary: $230,000. He is eligible for a 10 percent bonus at the end of the current fiscal year (June), or $23,000, He received a full 10 percent bonus last year of $22,000 on top of a base salary of $220,000.
Car allowance: $800 per month, $9,600 per year. The amount is added to his salary. It is intended to cover his auto insurance, wear and tear on his car and help defray his cost of purchasing the car. Gas is handled separately. He uses an agency credit card to fill up when traveling on agency business, and there is no limit on how much he can charge on the card.
Parking allowance: $230 per month, $2,760 per year. This covers 100 percent of the cost of parking in the garage beneath SANDAG's office building in downtown San Diego.
Cell phone allowance: $1,913 per year.
Health, dental, vision benefits: $16,580 per year. The health insurance cost for his family policy is $1,225.07 per month; SANDAG pays $1,111.96, he pays $113.11. The dental insurance cost for his family policy is $134.68 per month; SANDAG pays $121.95, he pays $12.73. The vision insurance cost for his family policy is $21.92 per month; SANDAG pays $19.83, he pays $2.09.
Vacation: 20 days a year. The board chair has the option of granting an additional 20 days off during even-numbered years. This policy was established because even-numbered years are election years, and Gallegos often works long hours on SANDAG ballot measures.
Deferred compensation: $16,500 a year. This is money the association contributes into a 401(k)-like account for government officials, where money isn't taxed and is invested for later withdrawal during retirement. This is something no one else at the agency receives.
Retirement: $18,400 per year. The association pays this amount into the state public employees retirement fund on his behalf. The amount is equal to 8 percent of his salary. All association employees receive this benefit at the same rate.
Executive benefit: $5,750 per year. Equal to 2.5 percent of his salary, this is a benefit SANDAG managers receive. They have the flexibility of using the money to take additional paid vacation time off or increasing their health insurance coverage. Gallegos said he uses it for health insurance, to cover things such as acupuncture that aren't covered by the health plan.
Contract terms: Gallegos has a five-year agreement that runs through June 30, with an automatic three-year renewal effective July 1. The contract specifies that his base salary will be set at $240,000 for fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1, at $250,000 for fiscal year 2011 and $260,000 for fiscal year 2012.
Both SANDAG and Gallegos had the option of not renewing the contract for three more years, by notifying the other party within 120 days of July 1, or around March 1. Neither party asked to cancel the renewal within that time. Gallegos said he was recruited early this year for the chief executive post at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, but declined the offer.
Termination: SANDAG may terminate the contract with or without cause, and must provide 60 days advance notice if without cause. Mr. Gallegos is entitled to a severance payment equal to six months' salary.
Total compensation package: $325,000
Sources: SANDAG, Gallegos' employment contract
