Indiana

Nice Work If You Can Get It

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I’m doing some research this morning in preparation for tomorrow night’s Mayoral Budget address. I’ve already gone over some arts funding figures, parks department numbers, and the possible privatization of the Mayor’s Action Center.

But what’s really interesting is when you start moving into specific areas and certain line items. Take this one for example. A review of contracts between the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and Counsel to the Sheriff, Kevin Murry, has revealed some interesting information,

By my count, Murray has five separate contracts with MCSD and they are all two-year deals. Here’s what they are for and how they cost. By the way, these agreements were all signed the Monday after the Mayoral election in 2007.

• General Counsel Services - $83,442.45 annual retainer.
• Pension Board Services - Up to $60,000 annually.
• Jail Overcrowding - Up to $100,000 annually.
• Labor & Employment - Up to $75,000 annually for services provided to the Sheriff’s Department.
• Labor & Employment - Up to $100,000 annually for services provided to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Making a couple assumptions, Murray was potentially getting paid $836,884.90. Of course you would have to take into account Frank Anderson no longer controls IMPD as of March of this year and it’s faulty to assume Murray would bill MCSD every last possible dime, but you have to admit, in an era where the city is $26 million in the hole, six figures ain’t bad take home pay.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 10, 2008 (boomark / email).