Board of Regents data suggest that South Dakota continues to suffer from brain drain. But the Board of Regents understands exactly how to reverse that brain drain: increase the salaries we pay by 32%:
Dr. Mary Nettleman, 55, becomes dean of the Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota and the USD vice president for health affairs.
Nettleman, moving here from Michigan State University, is the first woman to become dean in the 105-year history of the South Dakota medical school. Her $500,000 salary makes her the highest-paid state employee in South Dakota.
...[Previous dean Dr. Rodney] Parry made $379,000 as dean. Nettleman earned $425,000 at Michigan State. Jumping her pay to $500,000 fits what the position requires, [USD president Jim] Abbott said. Iowa and North Dakota are among states paying more.
"Many deans are paid significantly more, and this is two jobs," Abbott said [Jon Walker, "USD Med School Dean to Earn $500,000 per Year," that Sioux Falls paper, 2011.12.16].
Higher wages would get a lot of local graduates to stick around South Dakota as well. But uff da: we increase our med school dean's salary 32%, and Jim Abbott says we're still paying less than other states for comparable skills and work?
South Dakota apparently has a long way to go to attract the best workers and build a modern economy. The surest way to do that is to pay wages that reflect the value determined in a global and mobile labor market.
"South Dakota apparently has a long way to go to attract the best workers and build a modern economy. The surest way to do that is to pay wages that reflect the value determined in a global and mobile labor market."
There you go Cory. The monopoly capitalists of the New World Order are all too happy for that kind of thinking. Look to Europe for the "modern economy". And with their financial pains, why would we want to follow their lead?
That is a pretty simple way of looking at things. The reason people should be paid higher wages is for providing better skills and increased efficiency. My ability to pay wages to an employee will not magically increase 32% just because you say so.
Question: If paying people more helps attract people to South Dakota, wouldn't a tax cut do the same thing for those who don't work for government?
Cory,
I'm ok with paying someone $500,000 if that is a "bargain" but why do we have to do what everyone else is doing? Why can't we pay teachers reasonable salaries and pay the higher ups a reasonable salary?
I mean her monthly salary would be over $40,000 (without taxes) but how many public teachers don't make that in a year?
and is she really worth more to the school than Jim Abbott the president of the U?
Pales in comparison to pro athletes. No entertainment value.
Training physicians in LGBT care is lagging. USD: get on board:
http://interested-party.blogspot.com/2011/11/nyt-physicians-ill-trained-to-treat.html
Hrm... $500,000 salary + fringe, yet the school of medicine won't even provide basic medical benefits to graduate research assistants, and expect them to get by on the pittance they get.
Don't pay management at a competitive level if you're not willing to pay everyone within the organization at a competitive level. Otherwise you're itching for hard feelings and resentment.
"South Dakota apparently has a long way to go to attract the best workers and build a modern economy."
The surest way to do that is to get a majority of people to want to do it. I don't think that's the case!
Abbott worked as an intern in an office I worked in in Pierre 40 years ago. The medical dean is not the only overpaid executive at USD.