In the 2021 fiscal year, Kent County budgeted $32,488,400 for personnel, about 42.34% of the county’s total expenditures of $76,731,200.
The county had 437 full-time, part-time and temporary employees in 2021.
The average salary was $40,171 and the median was $41,063. That includes 60 members of committees or advisory boards with pay ranging from $100 to $1,700.
Sixteen Kent County employees earned over $100,000, while 23 received bonuses of $2,500 or more.
See the list of all county positions:Kent County salaries 2021
Here are Kent County’s 20 highest-paid employees in 2021
- Michael Petit De Mange, county administrator: wages $151,048.34, bonus $1,999.92, total $153,048.26
- Susan Durham, director of finance: wages $136,206.88, bonus $2,999.88, total $139,206.76
- Colin Faulkner, director of public safety: wages $122,996.18, bonus $2,999.88, total $125,996.06
- Diana Golt, director of public works: wages $123,337.96, bonus $1,999.92, total $125,337.88
- 5David Abramson, EMS field supervisor: wages $85,370.12, bonus $2,769.24, overtime $31,261.55, total $119,400.91
- John Witzke, paramedic 3: wages $81,935.93, bonus $1,999.92, overtime $32,689.16, total $116,625.01
- Sarah Keifer, director of planning services: wages $115,117.94, bonus $1,500.20, total $116,618.14
- Kimberly Crouch, director of information tech: wages $111,721.26, bonus $1,500.20, total $113,221.46
- Richard Allen, paramedic 2: wages $74,860.29, bonus $999.96, overtime $36,909.56, total $112,769.81
- Michael Clarke, EMS field supervisor: wages $90,633.63, bonus $2,577.04, overtime $17,734.47, total $110,945.14
- Allan Kujala, director of human resources: wages $103,053.92, bonus $2,500.16, total $105,554.08
- 1Richard Schlauch Jr., EMS field supervisor: wages $78,433.81, bonus $1,999.92, overtime $23,709.40, total $104,143.13
- James Machado Nunes, waste water plant operator 4: wages $70,863.25, bonus $2,999.88, overtime $30,098.55, total $103,961.68
- Michael Rigby, assistant director of public works – engineering: wages $103,318.84, bonus $625.17, total $103,944.01
- Mary Karol, assistant director of finance: wages $101,448.48, bonus $1,999.92, total $103,448.40
- Jeremy Sheppard, director of community services: wages $100,938.46, bonus $1,999.92, total $102,938.38
- Michael Bishop, EMS field supervisor: wages $86,575.29, bonus $2,999.88 bonus, overtime $8,029.78 overtime, total $97,604.95
- Joseph Simmons, director of information tech: wages $97,078.84
- 1Kevin Sipple, assistant director public safety – emergency communications: wages $92,817, bonus $3,500.12, total $96,317.12
- Kristopher Connelly, assistant director planning services: wages $93,223.52, bonus $1,817.33, total $95,040.85
Criteria for pay, bonuses, overtime
Kent County director of human resources Allan Kujala said the county hires a consultant about every three to five years to conduct a compensation, classification and benefits study “to determine the appropriate pay grade and pay range for county positions.” The exceptions are the 11 elected positions set by Levy Court. The last study was conducted in 2019.
Bonuses, for the most part, are based on years of service, Kujala said. Longevity bonuses increase every five years on the employee’s anniversary date, and are pro-rated and paid out on a biweekly basis, not a lump sum.
“Kent County appreciates the knowledge of long-term staff members and encourages all staff to improve skillsets with higher education and certifications often resulting in pay increase or promotion,” Kujala said.
Twelve employees receive a $100 Employee of the Month bonus and one of the monthly recipients is selected as the Employee of the Year with an additional $500 bonus.
“Bonuses and overtime are not included in the base salary upon which the pension or pension contribution is calculated,” Kujala said.
The largest bonus in 2021 was $3,605.83.
More Delaware government salaries:The News Journal and delawareonline.com government employee salary databases
Overtime pay of more than $20,000 went primarily to emergency medical services employees. Kujala said a shortage of paramedics has contributed to the overtime in addition to the usual necessity of staffing the operation 24 hours a day regardless of sick leave, vacation and emergency dispatches near the end of a shift.
“We would like to hire more paramedics, but it is difficult to recruit fully trained, certified, licensed staff,” he said. “We currently have five paramedic trainees attending the Good Fellowship EMS training academy. Covid certainly increased overtime opportunities for paramedics and other essential staff.”
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
