Simi Valley's top five paid public employees will make a combined sum of more than $1 million in the coming fiscal year in salary alone—and yet they're paid right in line with neighboring cities of similar size.

Longtime City Manager Mike Sedell brings home the most money, with an annual salary of $239,448.

That is about $10,000 more than Thousand Oaks City Manager Scott Mitnick, who makes $228,003 a year. But Sedell makes slightly less than City Manager Kenneth Pulskamp in Santa Clarita, who earns $241,633 annually.

Upper and middle management at city hall received their most recent raise in July 2008— a 3 percent costofliving increase.

The second biggest earner at city hall is newly appointed City Attorney Tracy Noonan, whose salary is $181,248 a year. Noonan's former boss, Amy Albano, the city attorney for Thousand Oaks, makes more at $203,041 a year.

Simi Chief of Police Mike Lewis earns the third highest salary at $172,525 annually. The three assistant city managers come in fourth, with each making $165,748 a year (See the adjacent fact box to see the city's other top earners.)

On the other end of the spectrum, a secondlevel tree trimmer makes $50,627, a full-time bus driver makes $48,526, a custodian makes $41,704, a secretary makes $39,728 and a waterworks meter reader makes $32,968.

The annual salary for most police officers is $83,346, although it could be higher or lower depending on the date they were hired. A sergeant earns about $108,888, a lieutenant makes up to $127,160 and one police captain brings home $145,632 a year.

It's important to note that besides their salaries, executive management employees at city hall also receive benefits, including health, dental and vision coverage for themselves and their family, and a pension/retirement plan and a matching 401(k) plan. The city manager and police chief also get a company car or $400 a month vehicle allowance. Assistant city managers get a $400 a month vehicle allowance, as do department heads.

To help balance the general fund for fiscal year 2009-10, two city employee groups in Simi Valley agreed to a 2 percent reduction in compensation, totaling about $1.1 million.

The local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which represents lowerlevel city employees in clerical, technical and maintenance positions, agreed to take a 2 percent reduction in the form of furlough days. According to Assistant City Manager Laura Behjan, each employee will take 53 unpaid vacation hours over the course of the fiscal year.

The city is finalizing a policy that will outline how furloughs will be implemented, Behjan said.

The management group, on the other hand, decided to take its 2 percent cut in benefits.

Behjan said there are two perks that managers normally receive that they are giving up for the rest of the fiscal year. First, managers will be unable to claim reimbursement for computer purchases. Second, the hours of unused vacation that can be "cashed out" will be limited.

"These are cash benefits that managers are entitled to and that they do take each year, so it is a cash savings to the city's expenditure budget," said Behjan, who is part of the management group.

The only group that has yet to take its 2 percent cut is the Police Officers Association (POA). Negotiations between the city and the POA are ongoing, even though the association's contract expired on June 30.

Behjan said the city is hopeful that negotiations will soon be resolved.

"From a broad perspective, what the city is asking the POA to do is the same as what has been requested of the other employee groups, which is to agree to a 2 percent reduction in compensation, in some fashion," she said. "And that's what needs to be worked out in these discussions—what the preferences would be of the POA to achieve that goal."

The POA includes peace officers in ranks up to sergeant. Sworn managementlevel officers, including lieutenants and captains, already took their cut as part of the management group.

Top 10 Earners at City Hall