Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said he believes the Legislature should block clauses that would pay out city employees, such as the lump sum payment that would come with Mayor TC Broadnax's retirement.
Johnson wrote in his weekly email newsletter to residents on Sunday that he would “golden” the severance clause in his contract with Broadnax, which would require him to pay him one year's salary of $423,246 if he resigned at the motion of a majority of the City Council. 'parachute,' he said. This will put the burden on taxpayers.
The mayor called the withdrawal a “backroom maneuver” between other council members and Broadnax, and his resignation was announced on February 21. He was elected Austin's next mayor six weeks later, on April 4. Other cities also pay large severance payments to the city. “Not in this way, but not for someone who already has a job lined up somewhere,” Johnson told his manager.
“The Texas Legislature should take action to protect taxpayers by banning this golden parachute for city employees anywhere in the state,” Johnson said in a newsletter. “Until then, as the search for a new City Manager continues, it is time for the Dallas City Council to take a stand and make clear that there will be no golden parachute clause in the contract for the next City Manager.”
Broadnax's city contract was approved by City Council in December 2016. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold is the only sitting City Council member elected at the time.
Johnson is one of several council members to say publicly that they didn't know Broadnax was resigning until it was announced. A city news release announced Broadnax's resignation, along with council members Adam Bazaldua, Zarin Gracie, Omar Narvaez, Jaime Rezendes, Janie Schultz, Gay Donnell Willis, and others. “The city manager is resigning at the recommendation of the majority,” said a joint news release. of the Dallas City Council. ”
Under the terms of Broadnax's contract, the city must pay him a lump sum equal to 12 months of his base salary in the event of an “involuntary separation” from his duties as city manager. They may also receive even more money in payments related to medical benefits and accrued vacation time.
Involuntary separation includes resignation “in response to a formal or informal recommendation of resignation by a majority of the City Council,” the contract states. Under the terms of Broadnax's contract, at least eight of the council's 15 members could have voted to fire him. That number is lower than the city charter's requirement that two-thirds of the city council must agree to remove a city manager.
Johnson led a public attempt to fire Broadnax in 2022, which ended with the two sides declaring a truce and the City Council approving a pay raise for the city manager. If the council had fired Broadnax, it would also have triggered a clause in the contract requiring Broadnax to receive a lump sum equal to 12 months' salary.
Broadnax declined to comment on Johnson's newsletter on Monday.
“I don't have any comments and I don't subscribe to the newsletter,” Broadnax said. dallas morning news.
Bazaldua called the mayor's newsletter “a political gesture at its best.” He said the terms of Broadnax's contract were clear and wondered how Broadnax would have received severance if the City Council had fired him in 2022.
“The difference between then and now is that Mayor Johnson failed in that attempt and was unable to build a simple majority of the City Council to get it done,” Bazaldua said. news. “I think the better question to ask is, if the mayor had been successful two years ago, would he still have this whining tone?”
Gracie, Narváez, Rezendes, Schultz, Willis. The newsletter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
City officials declined to say how much money Broadnax will receive when he leaves Dallas next month. Mr. Broadnax will begin his job as Austin City Manager on May 6th. Johnson's newsletter is the first official confirmation from city officials that Broadnax will receive his compensation after he leaves the city.
“The fact is that this provision, as written, created an incentive for things to swing just the way they did,” Johnson wrote. “Then you, the taxpayer, will be paying for it without forcing the city council to come together and discuss it first.”
Johnson said he does not support putting a similar clause in the next city manager's contract and instead suggests encouraging performance incentives. The mayor said helping the city meet goals such as reducing 911 response times, lowering violent crime rates and reducing waiting times for building permits could be an example of how city managers could earn additional pay. It suggests that there is a sex.
Johnson said he believes this will improve Dallas' city government evaluation process and make it more transparent to the public.
“If, through this approach, we demonstrably improve the city's core services, reduce waste and inefficiency, and improve public safety, city managers could ultimately earn twice as much money annually.” Even if you got it, you wouldn't think so.'' Would you accept that deal? Mr. Johnson said. “People should be rewarded for excellence while providing a service, not because that service is no longer desired.”
