For a transparent look at how taxpayer dollars are spent, Axios keeps a list of the highest-paid government employees.
Why it matters: Local government must pay leaders enough to retain talent while still being responsible stewards of tax dollars.
The intrigue: The CMS superintendent would be on this list, but Crystal Hill was recently fired. Per her contract, the school district still owes her a year’s salary in severance: $340,770.
- That means someone who doesn’t work for the system is getting nearly $100,000 more than the top-paid exec currently.
- Several executives on this list recently announced their exits from the district as it faces multiple investigations and scrutiny over its finances and management.
See the list below. We included only base salaries, not benefits or bonuses.
1. Melissa Balknight, deputy superintendent
Salary: $248,499.95…