Gallup creates 3 new positions

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — The city is making progress in finding an economic director team that will hopefully stimulate Gallup’s economy. Three positions are being created: an economic director, convention and visitor bureau specialist, and a grant writer. State Sen. Lidio Rainaldi has provided the city with a $166,000 appropriations to pay the salaries of the positions.

Though the salaries aren’t the highest, City Manager Gerald Herrera wants to stress the value of the benefits package offered with the positions.

“We’re currently in the process of making job descriptions,” said City Manager Gerald Herrera.

As with any attempt to fill positions in the city’s government, the budget doesn’t allow for highly competitive salaries. Herrera estimated that the CVB and grant writer position will pay about $32,000 a year, and the economic director position will offer about $48,000 per year.

Herrera pointed out that, besides budgetary concerns, the city’s retirement package is expensive. The actual dollar amount including benefits that the positions offer is about 135 percent of the annual salary. In the private sector, Herrera explained, this rate is usually closer to 120 percent. He said the city pays 70 percent of health insurance and offers a generous retirement package.

“You can work 25 years for the city ... and retire at 80 percent of your salary,” Herrera said.

The retirement benefits begin six months after retirement and is in addition to Social Security benefits. The retirement program is required by state law, so the city is bound to pay for it. The health insurance package is meant to entice qualified applicants.

Herrera said that with the retirement benefits, an employee can begin working with the city at 20 and retire by the time he or she is 45. For public safety positions in the fire and police department, the requirement is only 20 years of service before retirement. Herrera said that this greatly inflates the value of the positions beyond their salary. His salary $80,000 a year salary many have suggested is low, he explained, but it’s much more when the benefits are factored in.

“Granted, the salaries are not the greatest in the world ... With all the benefits, I’m actually making $110,000 a year,” he said.

He added that a career in the city can really pay off in the long run.

“The benefits overall for the city for a person off the street are ideal compared to private business,” he said.