Helix Water District Saving Money on Salary with New Chief Carlos Lugo

The Helix Water District looks to save about $20,000 a year under its proposed contract with general manager Carlos Lugo.

According to the agreement to be considered Wednesday by the district board (attached), longtime water district engineer Lugo will be paid $180,000 a year.

That compares with the $203,714 a year salary paid Mark Weston, Lugo’s predecessor.

Under a posted salary schedule, Lugo was paid between $124,476 and $158,836 annually as director of engineering, his job of more than a decade.

Lugo’s proposed contract says: “The district’s Board of Directors …  may increase said base pay based on Lugo’s performance as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. This base pay may not be reduced during the term of this Agreement, except that if the Board of Directors finds it necessary to reduce salaries of all employees, Lugo’s base pay may be reduced by no more than the average salary reduction imposed on all other employees.”

If the board finds it necessary to freeze the compensation of all employees, the contract says, Lugo’s base pay may also be frozen by board action.

Lugo’s fringe benefits will include retirement, dental, health, life insurance, paid time off and holiday leave, cell phone and, says the contract, “Lugo shall be furnished with a district-owned vehicle for his exclusive use and subject to Call-Back After Hours consistent with District Vehicles Authorized to Be Taken Home Policy.”

On Wednesday, the board announced its selection of Lugo—a Poway resident who would became the first Latino to head the water district since its formation (under a different name) in 1885.

Meanwhile, retired general manager Weston, also a Poway resident, has joined the San Diego County Water Authority as a member of the Board of Directors.  He was by the Poway City Council in early December.

According to the county water agency, directors of the 36-member panel receive compensation of $150 per day for each day’s attendance at meetings of the board, “or for each day’s service rendered as a member of the board by request of the board, and for each day while reasonably engaged in travel time to attend authorized meetings.”

Weston, who worked 13½ years for the Helix Water District, is collecting an annual pension of $110,000, the agency says.