Hamilton: 'Set A Good Example'

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - Newly hired county administrator David Hamilton, who said his first priority is turning in a balanced budget by July, has made the first move toward that goal by trying to hold down expenses.

He is willing to forego the 5 percent raise county commissioners were scheduled to give him after six months on the job, saving the county $6,750.

Instead, he will accept his starting salary of $135,000 and take whatever raise rank-and-file employees receive during budget talks.

Hamilton said it's just not good timing, given the economic climate in Hernando County. Usually, such automatic salary adjustments are normal, he said.

"However, we're not in normal times," Hamilton said. "The economy is clearly on the minds of the commissioners."

Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve Hamilton's contract, despite Commissioner Rose Rocco and some audience members concerns' that the salary was too high.

Rocco said she wanted to see Hamilton prove himself on the job before the county automatically grants him a built-in pay hike.

"I'd rather be treated on an equal footing with the rest of the employees," Hamilton said Wednesday.

Hamilton, speaking from Minnesota where he is wrapping up his duties as county administrator, said he understands the economic pain and - given his position of leadership - wants to set a good example.

"It also ties in with some of my own beliefs that government cannot live in isolation of the community that it serves," Hamilton said. "Clearly, the community is feeling economic pain. I understand that pain."

Hamilton said he will also ask his Crow Wing County board at its Tuesday meeting to waive the 60-day resignation clause in his employment agreement, which would allow him to start his duties March 17 in Hernando County.

Otherwise, the earliest he would start is around March 31.

Hamilton said he has already talked with Interim County Administrator Larry Jennings about the budget and is anxious to meet with Budget Director George Zoettlein to explore cost-cutting options.

"The budget is always a priority," Hamilton said. "Given the times we're in, following the passage of Amendment 1, it is the priority," he said.

Zoettlein estimates the county will lose about $9.1 million from the loss of property tax revenue from the constitutional amendment.

Hamilton's willingness to forego the automatic raise scored points with one community leader.

"I think that sets the right tone for department heads in the county to look at their budgets and say, 'Now what can we do to help the county during this economic downturn," said Dudley Hampton, president of the Hernando Builders Association.

Hampton believes the county did its due diligence in drafting Hamilton's contract.

"The county did exactly the same thing that a business would do," he said. "They looked at what comparable salaries are in the same position in the same area, in this case Florida and surrounding counties.

"$135,000 is a good salary obviously, but I think their methodology at arriving at that figure is correct."

Hampton hopes Hamilton will stay in the position long enough to affect positive change in Hernando County. The last two administrators, citing negativity in the community, resigned less than two years into the job.

"I think it would be very nice if we would have some continuity in that position (and) I think the county could get a lot accomplished," he said.

However, civic activist Nick Morana disagrees with the methodology used to negotiate Hamilton's salary.

"I don't go for this, 'We checked the surrounding (area),'" Morana said. "Uh, uh. It's what the man brings to the job and the duties of the job itself. That's what we call a salary and wage analysis.

"(The salary) is much too high, the benefits are very, very overly generous," he added. "I don't think he would have balked if the salary were lower and the perks weren't that good. I think he would have taken the job."

County Commissioner David Russell was on the losing side of a 3-2 vote to hire Hamilton. Rocco cast the other nay vote.

But both said they support the majority board decision and hope Hamilton proves his worth.

Russell called Hamilton's employment and salary package a "good faith contract" based on the parameters set forth by the job advertisement.

"I think (the salary) is way too high," said Linda Hayward, chairwoman of the Hernando County Taxpayers Alliance. "They are comparing salaries with other counties, when it's been mandated by the voters across the state that they are unhappy with management salaries in general."

Management salaries are already too high and by continuing to follow the same methodology, the salaries continue to get bigger, she said.