February 27, 2008

Watch those salaries, OIG says

The state prison oversight agency put out a report today assessing the $33 million that the medical care receiver's office spent on itself during its first 15 months of existence.

In looking at the expenditures, the Office of the Inspector General recommended that the receiver keep close tabs on what it pays the help and make sure his staff does a better job documenting travel expenditures.

Some 12 employees of the receiver's office used to make more than the $225,000 salary of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jim Tilton, the OIG said.

Robert Sillen, the former receiver who has since been ousted by the federal judge who appointed him in the first place, led the league with a projected annual wage and benefit package of $620,628, according to the OIG report.

Sillen's replacement, J. Clark Kelso, responded with a two-page letter saying he's already adopted the OIG's recommendations. Kelso said he's cut the receiver's internal budget by $4 million for the current fiscal year and that only eight of his employees are now making more than Tilton.

John Hagar, the receiver's chief of staff (who is still on Kelso's staff), pulled down $605,526 for his services during the 15-month period, according to the OIG.

Kelso said in his reponse he reserves the right to pay the help more than the state's salary structure if that's what it takes make California prison medical care comply with the U.S. Constitution.

Read the OIG's report and Kelso's response here.

Posted by Andy Furillo on February 27, 2008 1:25 PM