This website was created to raise awareness of the unfair financial burden placed on the citizens of Tuolumne County by the excessive pay, benefits, and pensions of the upper-echelon local government employees. It also aims to document the disparity in salary and benefits between the 20% of workers who do 80% of the work and the upper-echelon employees.

Tuolumne is one of the poorest counties in California. Yet, in 2022, we had over a dozen county employees who were paid more than Congressmen, Senators, 4-star Generals, and the Vice President. Additionally, two made more than the President.

Source: Transparent California

Tuolumne County’s Pay, Pensions, and Unfunded Pension Debt

In 2021, Tuolumne County’s total debt was $216,341,000.00, of that amount, $128,612,000.00 was for county employees’ pensions.

Page link: Tuolumne County’s Unsustainable Debt

In 2022, Tuolumne County had:

  • 2 employees who received over $400,000.00 a year in pay and benefits;
  • 10 employees who received over $300,000.00 a year in pay and benefits;
  • 51 employees who received over $200,000.00 a year in pay and benefits;
  • 297 employees who received over $100,000.00 a year in pay and benefits;
  • 22 former employees who received over $100,000.00 a year in pensions;
  • 353 employees who received $1,920,776.00 in overtime pay;
  • 880 employees who received a total of $72,933,894 in pay and benefits;
  • County employees compensation costs each resident $1,326;
  • median pay for full-time private workers was $51,116;
  • median pay and benefits for full-time county employees was $109,176.
    Source: Transparent California
    Page link: Tuolumne County’s Pay, Pensions, and Unfunded Pension Debt

Tuolumne County Pay – Top Ten 2022

Name Job title Regular pay Pay & Benefits
Tracie M Riggs County Administrative Officer $183,996.00 $412,477.12
Neil Evans Undersheriff $182,207.00 $402,996.69
Eric L Erhardt Asst County Administrative Officer $158,763.00 $359,489.98
Rebecca Espino Health Human Svcs Agency Dir $230,731.00 $347,541.75
Deborah M Bautista Clerk/Auditor-Controller $218,372.00 $345,312.64
Sarah Carrillo County Counsel $163,929.00 $342,072.73
Steven Boyack Assistant HHS Director $152,371.00 $324,554.18
William J Pooley Sheriff-Coroner $200,375.00 $322,507.58
Eric Hovatter Assistant District Attorney $146,446.00 $321,985.85
Daniel Hawks Chief Probation Officer $146,577.00 $314,280.69

Source: Transparent California
Page link: Tuolumne County Pay – 100K Club 2022

Tuolumne County Pensions – Top Ten 2022

Name Pension Benefits Disability Years of Service Year of Retirement Total pension & benefits amount
James Mele $180,839.70 $0.00 $0.00 30.77 2018 $180,839.70
Craig L Pedro $180,115.62 $0.00 $0.00 36.62 2018 $180,115.62
Beverly J Shane $164,827.95 $0.00 $0.00 36.59 2017 $164,827.95
Shirlee N Juhl $160,956.42 $0.00 $0.00 34.22 2008 $160,956.42
Adele L Arnold $137,397.96 $0.00 $0.00 35.41 2015 $137,397.96
Marilyn E Wallace $128,094.48 $0.00 $0.00 Beneficiary 2006 $128,094.48
Ann Connolly $126,616.92 $0.00 $0.00 30.79 2019 $126,616.92
Keith B Lunney $126,298.08 $0.00 $0.00 33.21 2013 $126,298.08
Steven C Szalay $121,858.77 $0.00 $0.00 10.24 2005 $121,858.77
Richard L Rogers $121,167.00 $0.00 $0.00 31.39 2005 $121,167.00

Source: Transparent California
Page link: Tuolumne County Pensions – 100K Club 2022

Tuolumne County Unfunded Pensions – Top Ten 2022

Name Job title Regular pay Pension debt
Neil Evans Undersheriff $182,207.00 $77,109.69
Rebecca Espino Health Human Svcs Agency Dir $230,731.00 $62,451.75
Tracie M Riggs County Administrative Officer $183,996.00 $62,008.12
David L Vasquez Sheriff’S Captain $158,250.00 $61,358.71
Deborah M Bautista Clerk/Auditor-Controller $218,372.00 $60,668.64
Daniel Hawks Chief Probation Officer $146,577.00 $60,301.69
Jarrod L Pippin Sheriff’S Captain $147,438.00 $60,131.04
Robert S Nikiforuk Sheriff S Lieutenant 10% $140,427.00 $58,916.62
Eric L Erhardt Asst County Administrative Ofc $158,763.00 $55,865.98
Sarah Carrillo County Counsel $163,929.00 $54,085.73

Source: Transparent California
Page link: Tuolumne County Unfunded Pensions – Top Ten 2022

Tuolumne County Overtime Pay – Top Ten 2022

Name Job title Regular pay Overtime pay
William Smylie Jail Deputy Sheriff $58,170.00 $33,925.00
Tai Yue Deputy Sheriff $70,295.00 $29,643.00
Romel Cuellar Sheriff S Sergeant $101,514.00 $28,894.00
Cody Stephens Deputy Sheriff Corporal $78,356.00 $28,479.00
Jamie Pacheco Jail Deputy Sheriff $60,781.00 $28,217.00
Lindsy Bones Jail Deputy Sheriff Corporal $59,912.00 $27,999.00
Nathan J Rohr Jail Deputy Sheriff Corporal $54,278.00 $27,903.00
James Oliver Sheriff S Sergeant Invest $132,163.00 $27,697.00
Jessica Holt Jail Deputy Sheriff Corporal $58,592.00 $27,487.00
McKenzie Lindeman Sheriff S Dispatcher Ii $54,776.00 $27,252.00

Source: Transparent California
Page link: Tuolumne County Overtime Pay – Top Ten 2022

Federal, State, And Local Debt

In 2024, the US Debt was over 34 trillion – $34,000,000,000,000.00

In 2021, California’s Debt was $240.6 billion – $240,600,000,000.00

In 2021, Tuolumne County’s Debt was $216,341,000.00

In 2021, the City of Sonora’s Debt was ???

  • Sonora has not published its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
    Sonora must publish its CAFR to restore public trust through financial transparency and accountability.
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