Recent high-level water manager moves come with high-level salaries

Three top-level personnel changes at two San Joaquin Valley water agencies have come with significant compensation packages, according to employment documents reviewed by SJV Water.

Starting salaries for the three new hires range from $360,000 to $400,000 a year, with likely increases for each after the first year.

The three, connected personnel changes started in January when Johnny Amaral was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Friant Water Authority from his previous position of Chief Operating Officer for the authority.

In March, Eric Limas, formerly General Manager of the Lower Tule River and Pixley irrigation districts, was hired to fill Amaral’s COO position at Friant.

A month later, attorney Alex Peltzer was hired as General Manager for the Lower Tule and Pixley districts.

All three are key positions in the southern valley and Tulare County, which is reflected in the compensation.

According to his contract, approved by the Friant board in March, Amaral’s base pay starts at $400,000 a year moving up to about $450,000 by 2030 upon satisfactory job performance. Each increase must be approved by the board.

He will receive 13% of his gross salary, $52,000 to start, in retirement contributions each year.  The authority will also provide Amaral with  a “new small- to mid-size sport utility vehicle for business use and incidental personal use,” according to his contract.

An offer letter to Limas states he will start as Friant’s COO at $360,000 a year and receive cost-of-living increases after the first year. The letter states he is also eligible to participate in Friant’s employee retirement, vacation and benefits programs but doesn’t list any details.

Peltzer will start at $360,000 with increases set to take him to $400,000 per year by 2029, according to his contract.

He will also receive $18,000 a year in car allowance. And 100% of his CalPERS pension costs will be paid by the districts.