EC Comp rings up "$100,000 Club"

Nearly one in five Erie County government workers took home more than $100,000 in salary, benefits and overtime last year according to an audit by the comptroller’s office.

The report said 723 workers — out of 4,187 workers — were part of what Comptroller Stephan Mychajliw termed the “$100,000 Club” in 2012. Personnel costs to the county add up to $326 million, or 29 percent of the budget. The individual workers are identified by title and not name.

The findings were released Monday as the comptroller noted in a letter to Legislature Chairwoman Betty Jean Grant that the county is looking at out-year budget gaps of $25.4 million.

“The data were are reporting is, quite frankly, eye opening,” Mychajliw said.

The majority of those earning six-figure salaries did so by raking in overtime pay. More than two dozen departments had employees who topped $100,000.

Other notables in the report:

Overtime exceeded 50% of the base salary for 219 workers

A total of 36 workers doubled their base salary in overtime

Nine workers in the “$100,000 Club” earned base salaries in the $30,000 range.