Sense on Cents

How might an individual earning close to $800k as a city manager live?

Let’s learn more about former Bell, CA city manager Robert Rizzo. The Orange County Register recently ran a little expose on Mr. Rizzo, Check Out Home of $800,000-a-Year City Manager:

Robert Rizzo, the city manager of Bell, is taking a lot of heat after the Los Angeles Times reported he’s pulling down a whopping $787,637 a year — apparently the highest paycheck for a city manager in California.

The Bell City Council is reported to be seeking his ouster, according to the newspaper. (LD’s edit: He did resign!!) The L.A. District Attorney’s office is looking into the hefty salary.

It turns out that Rizzo lives in Huntington Beach. I couldn’t resist the question: What’s his house like?

Check it out. What do you think?  I was expecting something more lavish. Overlooking  the ocean or the harbor, perhaps. Or both.

Rizzo’s home  isn’t on the market, but Zillow “Zestimates’” it at $883,500 — pretty close to the clutch annual salary. The tax assessor valued the house at $903,000 last year, according to public records.
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By the way, Rizzo, 56, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving near his house in March. A neighbor called police after Rizzo crashed into a mailbox.

“He is accused of being so stumbling drunk, the officer had to stop administering the field sobriety test,” said Susan Kang Schroeder, the Orange County District Attorney’s chief of staff.

She said Rizzo’s blood alcohol level was at .28, which is three and a half times the legal limit.

He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial on drunken driving charges.

But back to real estate: There’s another home on the street not too far from him that’s on the market right now with an asking price of $1,100,000.

I think it still has a mailbox.

Is it safe to assume that Rizzo was the highest paid city manager in the nation? Who knows in these days of municipal malfeasance. In regard to Mr. Rizzo’s job, “nice work, if you can get it!!”

You can’t make this stuff up, beyond that I will reserve comment.

LD