One Night, Two Price Tags: Topeka's Upside-Down Priorities
By Henry McClure, mcre Media
Topeka, it's time to get angry.
In a single night, our governing body spent about $157,000 on a ballot question so voters could weigh in on a tax to help our homeless neighbors. Then the same body turned around and approved a separation deal that sent outgoing City Manager Dr. Robert Perez a lump sum of $237,600.48. That's on top of his final paycheck and his unused vacation.
Let's be clear about what that check covers. According to records 13 NEWS obtained, it's nine months of salary plus nine months of health, dental and life insurance. In exchange, Perez agrees not to bring any further claims against the city.
Now look at the contract. It says severance is owed "in the event the Employee's employment is terminated by the City's Governing Body." It also says that if he voluntarily resigns, he "will not be entitled to the severance sum."
Mayor Spencer Duncan keeps telling us the resignation was voluntary and involved no wrongdoing. If that's true, why are taxpayers paying a severance the contract says a voluntary resignation doesn't earn? If it wasn't voluntary, why aren't we being told the truth? It can't be both.
The deal was approved late Tuesday after an hour behind closed doors in executive session, and Perez was gone that same night. Topeka families who scrape together every dollar for rent, groceries and property taxes deserve better than a quarter-million-dollar decision made in the dark.
This isn't about one man. It's about priorities. When the people at the bottom need help, we're told to put it to a vote and pay for the privilege. When someone at the top walks out the door, the money shows up overnight.
I want answers, and you should too:
- Was this resignation voluntary or not?
- Why was severance paid when the contract appears to rule it out?
- What claims did the city want to avoid, and what did that silence cost us?
Call the mayor at mayor@topeka.org, and write to the full council at council@topeka.org. Ask them these questions, and ask them to answer in public.
Interim City Manager Michael Webb starts Monday. Let's hope he brings a little more respect for the people paying the bills.
Henry McClure, Publisher, mcre Media
(762) 291-2765
https://mcremedia.blogspot.com/
Topeka, it's time to get angry.
In a single night, our governing body spent about $157,000 on a ballot question so voters could weigh in on a tax to help our homeless neighbors. Then the same body turned around and approved a separation deal that sent outgoing City Manager Dr. Robert Perez a lump sum of $237,600.48. That's on top of his final paycheck and his unused vacation.
Let's be clear about what that check covers. According to records 13 NEWS obtained, it's nine months of salary plus nine months of health, dental and life insurance. In exchange, Perez agrees not to bring any further claims against the city.
Now look at the contract. It says severance is owed "in the event the Employee's employment is terminated by the City's Governing Body." It also says that if he voluntarily resigns, he "will not be entitled to the severance sum."
Mayor Spencer Duncan keeps telling us the resignation was voluntary and involved no wrongdoing. If that's true, why are taxpayers paying a severance the contract says a voluntary resignation doesn't earn? If it wasn't voluntary, why aren't we being told the truth? It can't be both.
The deal was approved late Tuesday after an hour behind closed doors in executive session, and Perez was gone that same night. Topeka families who scrape together every dollar for rent, groceries and property taxes deserve better than a quarter-million-dollar decision made in the dark.
This isn't about one man. It's about priorities. When the people at the bottom need help, we're told to put it to a vote and pay for the privilege. When someone at the top walks out the door, the money shows up overnight.
I want answers, and you should too:
- Was this resignation voluntary or not?
- Why was severance paid when the contract appears to rule it out?
- What claims did the city want to avoid, and what did that silence cost us?
Call the mayor at mayor@topeka.org, and write to the full council at council@topeka.org. Ask them these questions, and ask them to answer in public.
Interim City Manager Michael Webb starts Monday. Let's hope he brings a little more respect for the people paying the bills.
Henry McClure, Publisher, mcre Media
(762) 291-2765
https://mcremedia.blogspot.com/
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