Parish Government Salaries, Contracts Posted Online
by Richard Rainey - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Under the auspice of an open government, Jefferson Parish interim President Steve Theriot has made available online the salaries of all 2,905 parish employees and copies of many signed contracts with the government. The salaries reflect yearly pay as of May 27 and became available Tuesday, almost five months after Theriot took office and told the Parish Council of his plan to introduce greater transparency into his administration's inner workings. According to the new list, Theriot makes $130,165, or $6,071 more than his predecessor, Aaron Broussard, made last year. Theriot couldn't be reached Tuesday, and it was not immediately clear how the president's salary was raised. However, Theriot maintained Broussard's habit of paying his top aides higher salaries than his own. Theriot's chief administrative officer, Jose Gonzalez, has worked for Jefferson for 29 years and makes $149,457, according to the list. Bert Smith, the deputy chief administrator, has 26 years under his belt and is paid $135,578. And Peggy Barton, the interim parish attorney, has worked for the government for 15 years and makes $135,000. Still, Gonzalez and Barton are being paid far less than the employees they replaced after a series of resignations earlier this year.

COMMENTARY: Great Idea! All Government Agencies Should Do This.