Health district losing managers; salaries too low?

A salary study at the Snohomish Health District could help determine how best to retain key managers possibly considering jobs with larger health agencies.

Health-district turnover continues to be low, agency officials say, but the departure of as many as five managers in the past five years to the Seattle/King County public-health agency and the state Department of Health has them reconsidering how much certain jobs should pay.

For $12,400 plus expenses, NW Management Consulting, a Seattle firm, will review 39 key positions, mostly managerial, and offer comparable pay scales and compensation advice.

The report should be available by July, in time for the district's board to consider salary increases as part of next year's budget.

About $30,000 has been set aside in this year's budget for immediate pay increases should they be necessary, said Rick Mockler, the health district's deputy director.

For about 15 years, the health district has determined manager and other nonunion salaries through a points system that rates job responsibilities.

But as union contracts have continued to garner wage increases, some union employees are making nearly as much as their managers, said Gail Fraser, the health district's human-resources manager.

The threat of private offers also is to be considered. The health board recently heard how difficult it is for the health district to hire or retain well-trained information-systems specialists because private companies such as Microsoft can offer much more.

These positions, as well as the health district's epidemiologists — highly sought after because of the availability of U.S. Department of Homeland Security grants — also are being reviewed.

Program managers hold the most common supervisory position in the health-district administration.

The study's findings will be considered by an internal committee, but the health board will have the final say on any salary adjustments.

"There are new board members this year, and perhaps they will be more amenable to adjustments," Fraser said. "It depends on how we can implement changes without digging ourselves into a hole."

Because of budget concerns, last year's board agreed to add only three new positions out of nearly 10 requested. Money woes could be a concern again this year.

"We may have to make partial adjustments," Mockler said. "Otherwise, the money will have to come from our fund balance."

With little room for additions, any approach could have an impact on the 2007 budget, Mockler said.

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-783-0577 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com