Lavish, Gold-Plated Pensions Making Millionaires Of Eau Claire, WI-Area Government Employees

Click here to view University of Wisconsin Eau Claire top government salaries and estimated pensions.
Click here to view Eau Claire County, WI Government Schools top salaries and estimated pensions.
Click here to view City of Eau Claire, WI top government salaries and estimated pensions.
Click here to view the top Eau Claire County, WI salaries and estimated pensions
EAU CLAIRE–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that government employees of the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, City of Eau Claire, Eau Claire County schools, and the County of Eau Claire are not only receiving very generous salaries but that their estimated pension payments in many cases will be larger than salaries in the private sector.
“The state refuses to release figures relating to pensions, and I condemn this lack of transparency,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President. “The public is paying for these pensions.  If I get a bill from a business, I have a right to know what I’m being charged for.  Why do the politicians and the privileged pensioners want so badly to avoid being held accountable?”
“Heading the list of UW Eau Claire’s Top 100 salaries and estimated pensions is Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, pulling in an enormous annual salary of $197,949. When Stankevich retires, his pension including Social Security is estimated to start at $164,564 a year — $13,714 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect an astounding $3,455,850 in total pension payments.”
“Our Top 100 salaries and estimated pensions for the Eau Claire County Government Schools reveals that Ronald Heilmann of the Eau Claire School District receives an annual salary of $166,212 with fringe benefits of $54,549. When Heilmann retires, his pension including Social Security is estimated to start at $142,348 a year — $11,862 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect over $2,989,316 in total pension payments.”
Fringe benefits include charges paid by local taxpayers, such as Social Security taxes, health insurance premiums and retirement contributions.
“Of our list of the Top 100 salaries and estimated pensions for the City of Eau Claire, City Manager Michael W. Huggins tops the list, with a generous annual pay of $132,559. When Huggins retires, his pension including Social Security is estimated to start at $118,791 a year — $9,900 a month. Over a normal lifetime, he will collect over $2,494,615 in total pension payments.”
“Of the top salaries and estimated pensions for Eau Claire County, County Administrator John McCarty had a gross pay in 2010 of $114,119. When McCarty retires, his pension including Social Security is estimated to start at $105,883 a year — $8,824 a month. Eau Claire County has 486 employees.”
“The average taxpayer in Eau Claire will be funding these lavish retirements on earnings of only $35,500 a year.  Wisconsin’s pension system is making multimillionaires out of public employees at taxpayer expense,” said Tobin. “All new government hires should plan for their own retirement with 401(k) plans and Social Security, just as workers in the private sector do.”
Click here to view this News Release as a PDF.