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July 5, 2017

Back in the 70s, when I got my first exposure to computer systems, what we now call the Information Technology (IT) department was called Management Information Systems. At what was then called the Michigan Department of Social Services, the computer folks were the Bureau of Management Information Systems, or BuMIS. The implication of the name was that a primary function was to provide information to the department's managers to assist in administering programs such as Aid to Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, Aid to the Disabled and Food Stamps.

A few days ago, when I finally got the 2016 payroll information from the City of Lansing I'd FOIAed in March, I was told that because it took so long, I wouldn't be charged. The actual cost, I was told, exceeded $1000, and to reduce costs next time, I should consider narrowing my request.

$1000+ seems excessive unless the City is still using Fortran and punch cards. I suspect the threatened charge has been inflated as a deterrent. Little work should have been required. The information should have been on hand since late January, when the City submitted its payroll file to the IRS and the State Department of Treasury. If that file lacked some of the information I requested, you'd think it would have been pulled together at that same time so it could be presented to the mayor, the personnel office and the finance department. You'd think Management would want that information.

If Management did not get that information, they should thank me for getting it for them and presenting it in a useful form on this readily-available website. I should charge them. It took hours of work, and after I got it all done, I had to do much of it over again when I discovered that the file contained 39 people who were hired in 2017. Here are some items Management might find of interest:

• A total of 1,139 employees received pay in 2016. There were 92 terminations, so there were 1,047 employees at the end of the year. There were 223 hires, so with 92 terminations, there was a net gain of 131 employees. However, that doesn't count new police officers, the number of which is unknown because their hire dates were redacted. As when I got this same information for 2010, the names of undercover police officers were redacted. This time, however, position, bargaining unit and hire date were also redacted. No reason given. Also redacted were hire dates for all other police officers, which makes no sense (and may have been a mistake). For any of them who were hired before 2011, I was able to get the hire date from the 2010 file.

• There were 61 contract employees at the beginning of the year. 43 more were hired and 22 terminated, bringing the year end total to 82. At the end of 2010, there were 31.

• Public Service director Chad Gamble got a $15,600 "miscellaneous" payment on top of his $124,021 regular wages.

• Contract employee Sharon Frischman works for the Finance Department and gets $102 per hour, $28 more than City Attorney Jim Smiertka, who has the second highest hourly rate.

• Total overtime paid was $4,993,835.92. The Police Department was highest with $2,107,418.31, next was the Fire Department with $1,618,018.91 and third was Public Service with $1,192,053.89. The overtime king was police sergeant Guy Pace, whose $70,717.98 overtime pay was almost as much as his $74,568.68 regular pay. He got more pay in 2016 than anyone.

Here is the data:

You can always find this information by going to my home page (steveharrypublicpolicy.com), clicking Directory at the top, then Reports, then - under City of Lansing - 2016 payroll.

Send comments, questions, and tips to stevenrharry@gmail.com, or call or text me at 517-505-2696. If you'd like to be notified by email when I post a new story, let me know.

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