Contract shows new city manager making less than old

LAS CRUCES - Even before Robert Garza's first day on the job as Las Cruces' newest city manager, he was already catching some heat.

Since his promotion Dec. 13 from assistant city manager to city manager, there has been some misunderstanding about the $149,500 base salary he will receive, as part of a three-year contract.

"That figure is more than the current city manager is making," said Ray Delgado, a retired construction foreman, of the $136,500 base salary Terrence Moore received. "I don't have anything personal against Mr. Garza, and I'm glad he's going to be the city manager. But why is he going to be paid more than (Terrence) Moore was making?"

That's the most frequently asked question Garza and other city officials have fielded in the past weeks. At the time of his appointment, city officials said Garza would be receiving the same salary as Moore's.

Well, not really. According to city documents, Garza's salary is actually going to be slightly less than Moore's. The city's budget for the current fiscal year shows that Moore's total compensation is $156,726.44, or $1,226.44 more than Garza is earning.

Moore, whose last day as city manager was Dec. 31, has also been paid a $6,000 annual car allowance, $12,785 in tax-deferred income to the International City Manager

"The biggest difference between the two contracts is that deferred income," Garza said. "I have chosen, instead, to have that money added to my base salary. Terrence exercised a contractual option to defer nine percent of his salary, and that's where that $12,785 has gone.

"I am not going to earn the same as Terrence was, mine will actually be a bit less."

Mayor Ken Miyagishima said the contract between the city and Garza was carefully considered.

"It is a good package," Miyagishima said. "When we considered moving Robert up, we wanted a contract that was within the same (salary) range as Terrence's. We feel there's two guys whose professional qualifications are almost equal."

Miyagishima also said there is value added to Garza's contract.

"Here's a guy who knows the city inside and out and has been a good role model for other city employees," Miyagishima said. "If we had gone to an outside search we wouldn't have found anyone with the knowledge of the city that Robert has. Consider, too, that an outside search would have probably cost the city an additional $40,000 to $60,000, and then figure the additional time that would have been needed. We probably would have been looking at months before we could have filled that position. Think, too, that not only does the city get a solid administrator but also a professional engineer in Robert."

Garza, 46, has worked for the city for 25 years. Two years of that was as an intern while Garza was attending New Mexico State University. He earned his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering at NMSU, and has received management and leadership training from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Throughout his entire time as a city employee, Garza has been paying into his New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association account, and he said he intends to continue that as city manager.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.

Clarification

•The annual salary of new City Manager Robert Garza is less than the total compensation paid this year to outgoing City Manager Terrence Moore.

•According to city budget records, Moore's compensation this year is $156,726.44, while Garza will receive $155,500.

•Moore's compensation includes: a base salary of $136,500; an annual vehicle allowance of $6,000; International City Managers Association deferred compensation of $12,285; and health insurance of $7,941.44.

• Garza's compensation will include a base salary of $149,500 and a vehicle allowance of $6,000.

•Garza will not be paid ICMA deferred compensation or health insurance, since he is already receiving health insurance from another outside source.

•Garza's retirement plan is through the New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), which is available to most public employees in the state.

Breakdown and comparison

Terrence Moore Robert Garza

•Base salary $136,500 $149,500

•Vehicle allowance $6,000 $6,000

•ICMA $12,285 $0

•Health insurance $7,941.44 $0

•Totals $156,726.44 $155,500

Source: City of Las Cruces