Saturday, December 12, 2009

How much money do people make at GCASA?

There were accusations made on the Daily News blog in Batavia, NY that GCASA bilks the taxpayers, that it is just a money grubbing agency, and staff are getting rich at the expense of the clients.

Here is a preview of a full report to the public which will be made next week.

Out of the 92 employees at GCASA only 11 make more than $40,000 per year.

Of the 81 employees who make less than $40,000 per year the average annual salary of a GCASA employee is $26,500 dollars. Most staff members at GCASA have Bachelor's degrees from college and a large number have Master's Degrees.

The highest paid person at GCASA is the Executive Director who has a Master's Degree and 41 years of experience in the Behavioral Health field and who has been employed at GCASA as executive director for 9 years. His annual salary in 2009 is $74,459.32. He is eligible for a 2% raise in at the end of 2009 which would be an increase of $1,489.19 which he has declined. So the Executive Director will not receive a raise in 2009 and 2010.

Most of GCASA's employees, if they depend on their GCASA salary alone have incomes below the median salaries in the counties we serve.

According to the U.S. Census bureau 5,451 people or 13.9 percent of the population in Orleans County lives in poverty. The median income is $46,220.00.

In Genesee County 5,992 people live in poverty or 10.6 percent of the population. The median income is $49,133.00

81 of GCASA's 92 employees have salaries under $40,000.00 per year, the average salary being $26,500.00

As professionals GCASA employees get paid much less than professionals in comparable jobs such as police officers, teachers, nurses, and even correction officers, etc.

According to a recent CNN poll, substance abuse counselor is the 13th worst job out of 50 listed in America. Social Work of which I am a member is the #1 worst job in America.

More information next week.

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