Fairfax County Executive Tony Griffin got a seven percent pay increase Feb. 11, bringing his base salary to $180,282.
He was also awarded a $5,000 performance bonus and a $3,500 increase in the amount contributed to his deferred compensation account, according to the county’s Office of Public Affairs.
“Based on our Pay for Performance system, that’s the most he can get,” said Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill).
“It reflects the board’s evaluation that he is doing an excellent job.”
Previously, Griffin earned $166,820.
The board approved the increase Monday after discussing Griffin’s job performance in executive session.
Earlier in the day, the board honored Griffin and his five-man management team with plaques that commemorated their designation by “Governing” magazine as “one of the best-managed jurisdictions in America.”
“That’s an applause line for these guys,” said Board Chairman Kate Hanley, gesturing to Griffin and his leadership team: Deputy County Executives Verdia Haywood and Rob Stalzer; Office of Management and Budget Director Ed Long and Chief Financial Officer Dave Molchany.
“We’re pretty good ... we’re the benchmark,” said Gerry Connolly (D-Providence).
“The [Governing] article points out that we did it with one hand tied behind our back,” said Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock), quoting from the article that “Virginia is a strict Dillon Rule state with severe legislative restrictions on its localities that prohibits counties from structuring their own tax systems.”
“We are not able to access wealth,” she said. “That makes it more challenging.”
“The caliber of the people we have here is outstanding. No group of constituents is more demanding and more transient than in Fairfax County. They take a shot at [Washington, D.C.] the place they work, but not where they live [Fairfax County],” said Dana Kauffman (D-Lee).
Hudgins said the past year has been “a very quiet time” in Fairfax County. “We have not heard horrendous complaints from our employee groups and our communities,” she said.
“The county organization came together quite well in a regional response to 9-11,” she said. “That reflects a leadership style that is well-valued.”
In the Government Performance Project, Governing magazine and Syracuse University reviewed 40 counties, ranked by overall revenue, grading them in five areas of management such as financial management, capital management, human resources, managing for results, and information technology.
The evaluation was based on surveys completed by Fairfax County agencies, with the GPP asking follow-up questions.
Fairfax County was one of two counties to receive grades of “A-”.
The other was Maricopa County, Ariz.