Phenix City top salaries stack up compared to Columbus

While Phenix City is a much smaller municipality than Columbus — about 37,500 residents on the Alabama side to more than 200,000 in Muscogee County — the salaries at the top levels of government are comparable.

It is not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it is interesting when you lay some of the top salaries side by side in similar or comparable jobs. Take the names out of it, and look at the numbers. It gets more interesting.

Gathering the information from the county was much easier this year. A year ago, the Ledger-Enquirer threatened legal action to obtain the information through Alabama’s Open Records laws. The county commission voted to release the information. This year, the information was released when requested.

Here are seven things you should know about the Phenix City and Russell County employee salaries:

1. City manager.

With the city salaries, City Manager Wallace Hunter is the top-paid employee, making $161,892 annually, up nearly 2.5 percent from his $157,944 salary a year ago. Hunter makes more than $20,000 more than Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley, who makes $141,423 managing a city government with a $265 million budget. The Phenix City annual general fund budget is about $37 million and Hunter is also responsible for a $17 million utility and special funds budget. Hunter is the highest paid general government employee in either city. Russell County administrator LeAnn Horne makes $87,377.

2. Law enforcement.

Phenix City Police Chief Ray Smith makes $99,909 annually, less than the $107,220 that Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren makes. Phenix City Fire Chief Kristen Kennedy makes $95,151 annually compared to Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Jeff Meyer, who makes $103,266. Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor makes $90,000 annually, which is less than the $106,543 paid to Muscogee County Sheriff John Darr.

3. Finance and Engineering.

Phenix City Finance Director Stephen Smith makes $106,853 annually compared to new Columbus Finance Director Angelia Alexander, who makes $88,464. Phenix City Engineer and Public Works Director Angel Moore makes $115,288 compared to Columbus Engineering Director Donna Newman, who makes $97,647. The top-paid employee in Russell County is Chief Engineer Larry Kite, who makes $133,464.

4. Other key positions.

Phenix City Clerk Charlotte Sierra makes $80,049 compared to Columbus Clerk of Council Tiny Washington, who makes $74,421. Other department heads: Phenix City Parks and Recreation Director Todd Hughes makes $80,879, less than the $90,675 paid to Columbus Parks and Recreation Director James Worsley. Phenix City Human Resources Director Stephanie Chastain makes $80,879 compared to Columbus Human Resources Director Reather Hollowell, who makes $86,306.

5. The big bucks.

There are five Phenix City employees who make six-figure salaries. The city manager, city engineer, police chief and finance director are among that group. Utility Director Roger Conner makes $104,041 to round it out. The county engineer is the only person in Russell County government who makes six figures. The state of Alabama pays about 70 percent of the county engineer's salary. That compares to 17 Columbus city employees who make six-figure salaries.

6. Median income.

The median household income in Phenix City is $39,900, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. The median individual income of the nearly 439 full-time city employees is $37,086. In Russell County, the median household income is $38,854, while the median income for the roughly 295 employees is $34,274. All of that compares to a median individual income of a Columbus Consolidated Government employee of $37,275.

7. The elected councils and commission.

Phenix City council members — Arthur Day, James Cannon, Gail Head and Johnny Barfield — each make $22,938 annually. Russell County commissioners — Gentry Lee, Tillman Pugh, Ronnie Reed, Cattie Epps, Chance Corbett and Larry Screws — each make $25,043 annually. Commission Chairwoman Peggy Martin makes $31,648.37. That compares to Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe, who is part-time and makes $35,000. Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, who is full time, makes $82,368. Columbus councilors make between $14,283 and $17,543.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Phenix City top salaries stack up compared to Columbus."