A Message From CEO Will Kempton 

At the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), we are proud of our long-time reputation of accountability, openness and transparency. As a public agency funded with taxpayer dollars, we believe you have an absolute right to know where your tax dollars are being spent and to ensure those public dollars are being invested in a fiscally responsible manner. Without your involvement, we cannot as a public agency fulfill our mission of an integrated and balanced transportation system that supports the diverse travel needs and reflects the character of Orange County.

We operate under the guiding principles of five core values:

• Integrity
• Customer Focus
• Can-Do Spirit
• Communication
• Teamwork / Partnership

Living up to our core value of communication means that we continuously strive to operate with transparency – always providing timely, accurate and useful information to our customers, stakeholders, our partners and most importantly you, our taxpayers.

Salaries and benefits of elected officials and public agency employees have always been a source of significant interest to members of the public and the news media. As a public employee, I understand the scrutiny of my salary and the compensation for the rest of our employees and as a taxpayer, I welcome it.

OCTA has always made employee salary and benefit information available to the public, providing it quickly and without question to anyone requesting it. To enhance our communication with you, we have chosen to post the salary information of our executive directors, directors and board members. The executive compensation information below is inclusive, representing not only salaries but deferred compensation, auto allowance and other benefits such as health, retirement and life insurance benefits. All other administrative employees' salary information by position can be accessed with the Personnel and Salary Resolution. This document also provides an overview of employee benefits.

As OCTA's chief executive officer, my annual salary is $280,008 with an additional $5,600 annually for deferred compensation, $9,180 for a car allowance and $91,632 in benefits, making my total compensation package $386,420. The OCTA deputy chief executive officer's annual salary is $215,010 with $23,450 in deferred compensation, $9,180 for a car allowance and $83,182 in benefits, totaling $330,822. Information for the remainder of the executive team is shown in the Executive Compensation chart below.

Salaries and benefits summary
At OCTA, we continuously strive to offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program. The current economic conditions have resulted in the elimination of merit increases and special performance awards for administrative employees in the fiscal years 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. In spite of the difficult economic times, OCTA strives to be a workplace of choice by offering competitive wages and benefits and our compensation levels are consistent with other public agencies of similar size and operations. This is a critical factor in allowing the agency to attract and retain superior employees within the marketplace.

Benefits summary
OCTA offers its employees medical, dental and vision coverage. Costs vary based on the plan each employee selects. Retirement benefit costs are based on age of entry into the retirement system as a percentage of salary. OCTA pays both the employer and employee share of the retirement costs, similar to many public agencies in Orange County. OCTA also provides group term life insurance as well as disability insurance coverage.

Auto allowance
OCTA provides an auto allowance of $9,180 annually for the CEO, deputy CEO, executive directors and directors consistent with the Personnel and Salary Resolution, which links the allowance to the amount paid to senior management at the county of Orange.

Compensation for Board of Directors
Per the California Public Utilities Code, the OCTA allows members of the board of directors necessary traveling and personal expenses incurred in the performance of duties authorized by the board and may allow members per diem compensation at the maximum rate of $100 per day, not to exceed $500 in any calendar month, for attending board meetings and for performance of any other services for OCTA as authorized by the board. Compensation for mileage will be paid at the IRS rate to any member who does not have a city-owned or county-owned vehicle.

Medical, dental, vision and term life insurance also are available to board members and amounts vary depending on when a member began serving on the board of directors and whether the member receives insurance from another public agency. The detailed description of what board members receive for insurance is available in the Personnel and Salary Resolution on page 19.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION*

*Executive compensation is based on annualized salary & benefits information as of January 1, 2012.
**Includes health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and retirement plan contributions. 

 

   BOARD OF DIRECTORS - Compensation

* based on $100/meeting with a maximum of $500/month and $6000/annually
** includes general term life insurance ($96 in 2011, $84 in 2012) and in some cases healthcare benefits
*** Director Galloway joined in May 2011, Director Hennessey in September 2011
 

For additional information about OCTA compensation, please contact the Human Resources Department at (714) 560-5600.