News

City Light CEO answers KIRO 7's questions

Quick Facts:

  • City Light general manager and CEO Jorge Carrasco makes $244,000
  • With the raise, Carrasco could make as much as $364,000 a year
  • Mayor Ed Murray will decide amount of raise
  • City Council approved a pay range increase
  • City Light workers gathered signatures against raise

Seattle's highest paid employee is expected to get a sizable raise, and KIRO 7 asked him about it in a Friday interview.

When City Light General Manager and CEO Jorge Carrasco was hired, the pay range for his position was $158,000 to $237,000. Earlier this month, the City Council voted to increase to pay range by 45 percent -- $227,000 to $364,000.

Mayor Ed Murray will decide the actual amount of the increase, which he said is needed because Carrasco is underpaid compared to other CEOs of public utilities.

The superintendent of the Tacoma Public Utility District is paid $309,000 a year. The superintendent of the Snohomish PUD is paid $356,000.

According to City Light spokesman Scott Thomsen, Murray has indicated support for a $60,000 raise.

Carrasco’s raise will come at the cost of City Light customers.

Before the city council meeting where his raise was approved, a petition with hundreds of signatures was delivered to City Hall by Seattle City Light workers saying the raise wasn't deserved.

They say it's appalling that Seattle leaders could make the highest paid city employee even richer.

Carrasco currently makes nearly $245,000 a year.

Council member Nick Licata voted no -- citing that no real improvement was seen in the City Light employee survey.  As expected, council member Kshama Sawant also voted no.

Carrasco was hired more than 10 years ago and during that time, the pay scale for his position has been adjusted one time.

Want to talk about the news of the day? Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.