Transit chief's pay criticized

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 30, 2005 | by Nicole Warburton Deseret Morning News

It pays to be Utah Transit Authority boss John Inglish.

His 2005 base salary: $266,614.40.

Monthly car allowance: $771.

Assuming his bonus this year is similar to the past five years, Inglish's year-end salary could be anywhere from $296,000 to $320,000.

Advocates for the poor and fixed-income say that number is appalling. On Sunday, they will face increases for most bus and rail passes.

Fares will increase again in 2006, including a hike for paratransit riders.

"A lot of people make more than the governor, but $300,000 is more than a lot of general managers of transit agencies make," said Elizabeth Matthews, an advocate with the Crossroads Urban Center in Salt Lake City.

"That's a lot of money to throw at one person, and the question to ask is: 'Is he worth it?' "

For critics, the answer is a clear no.

Michael Packard, a Sandy construction safety consultant, says Inglish should be paid no more than Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who will make $104,100 this year.

Packard also characterized Inglish as a "terrific pitch man for transit socialism" and suggested he is rewarded for pushing a left- wing agenda. "He is the darling of (American Public Transportation Association), the national (transit) groups, if he can sell socialized transit and get us not to build freeways when we need them," he said.

Over the past five years, UTA has greatly expanded its transit system in Salt Lake County, the largest of six counties the authority services. Three light-rail spurs have been completed: University, Medical Center and the line from Sandy to Salt Lake City.

Other light-rail spurs are planned, including Airport, Draper, Mid-Jordan, West Valley. A 44-mile commuter rail line from Salt Lake to Pleasant View is expected to be built by 2008. It will eventually extend to Brigham City and Payson.

Bus rapid transit in Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties also is being studied.

Inglish was in Washington, D.C., Friday lobbying for federal funding of commuter rail, but Orrin T. Colby, president of the UTA board of trustees, defended attacks against Utah's top transit executives.

Besides Inglish, the 15 highest-paid UTA employees will each receive more than $100,000 this year. General counsel Katherine Pett will receive $228,980, including bonus.

Chief capital development officer Mike Allegra will receive $149,520 with bonus. Allegra has worked at UTA since 1978. He is the longest-serving executive behind Inglish and regional general manager Art Bowen.

"If we were to base salary on their performance only and not look at market conditions and not look at other kinds of things, they would deserve a higher salary than what they are getting," Colby said. "I don't think anyone in the transit industry garners as much federal funding on a comparable basis as what John and his staff are able to do."

The UTA board determined salaries for Inglish and Pett. Inglish sets the salaries for his employees.

William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), said Inglish and UTA are known nationally as industry leaders.

"Whatever you're paying John Inglish, you're getting a bargain," he said. "Whatever you're paying, if you double that, you're getting a good bargain. He's a first-class manager, an innovator, a guy who has an extensive national reputation. Frankly, he's a guy if you didn't pay him right could be gone tomorrow and land in another city or in the private sector making this much money and far more."

Inglish's salary exceeds the compensation of top transit executives in Dallas and Denver, areas with comparable services: bus, light rail, paratransit. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) also has a commuter-rail line.

Gary Thomas, DART president/executive director, has a base salary of $182,000, including annual bonus. Cal Marsella, general manager of the Denver Regional Transportation District, has a base salary of $205,000.

Inglish has been with UTA far longer than Marsella or Thomas with their respective companies.

"If we don't hire good people, we don't get a good product out of them," said Colby. "In my personal opinion, I don't believe those who have social needs have ever had it as good, as easy, as accommodating, or as inexpensive when you compare incomes to fares as we do currently."

Matthews with the Crossroads Urban Center isn't convinced.

"We look at the income of people we're working with, which is below poverty level, and they're breaking their backs to try and find a job," she said.

The Crossroads Urban Center assists the low-income or disabled. Each Monday and Wednesday, the center supplies 50 free transit tokens to those on fixed incomes looking for jobs.

The number of tokens given may have to be cut with the fare increases, said Matthews. "It just doesn't seem fair. It isn't fair, and I think John Inglish gets undue praise," she said.

Within the coming months, the UTA board and management will meet with advocates like Matthews to discuss ways to better service the low-income.

Contributing: Zack Van Eyck

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com