The Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved a nearly $43,000 pay increase for District Attorney Todd Spitzer, bumping his annual salary to $353,236.
About every three years, the county does a market rate study to ensure directors and elected officials are in alignment with the current marketplace, county spokeswoman Molly Nichelson said. In this case, the pay hike was made to keep pace with Spitzer’s equivalent in San Diego County, Summer Stephan. Officials said Orange County regularly use San Diego as a benchmark.
Spitzer’s overall compensation increases to $531,477, including all benefits. Spitzer has served as district attorney since 2018; he easily won reelection last year.
The board voted 4-0 for the pay increase. Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento abstained, saying he has not been on the board long enough to fairly consider Spitzer’s job performance.
“I have simply not had the time to evaluate his performance,” Sarmiento said. He was elected in November and took his seat in January. “But I don’t want my abstention to be considered a comment on the success or deficiencies in the department. I haven’t had a chance to get to know or evaluate his performance or management of his office.
The City News Service contributed to this report.
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