The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors reduced their benefits by nearly 40 percent yesterday, making board member compensation comparable to Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties and saving taxpayers more than $240,000 a year. According to a county press release, Supervisors eliminated several types of benefits currently provided to members of the board, including their retirement pickups, contributions toward 401(k) and 457(b) savings plans, and medical expense reimbursements. A voter-approved County Charter amendment sets board member salaries at a fixed amount comparable to supervisors in neighboring counties. However, their benefits add nearly $121,000 to each board member’s total annual compensation. The board’s action cuts that number by more than $48,000. The 2010-11 Grand Jury concluded San Bernardino County compensation was not comparable to other counties, the board responded by directing the creation of the benefit reduction ordinance.
