It pays to be Utah Transit Authority boss John Inglish.

His 2005 base salary: $266,614.40.

Monthly car allowance: $771.

Assuming his bonus this year is similar to the past five years, Inglish's year-end salary could be anywhere from $296,000 to $320,000.

Advocates for the poor and fixed-income say that number is appalling. On Sunday, they will face increases for most bus and rail passes.

Fares will increase again in 2006, including a hike for paratransit riders.

"A lot of people make more than the governor, but $300,000 is more than a lot of general managers of transit agencies make," said Elizabeth Matthews, an advocate with the Crossroads Urban Center in Salt Lake City.

"That's a lot of money to throw at one person, and the question to ask is: 'Is he worth it?' "

For critics, the answer is a clear no.

Michael Packard, a Sandy construction safety consultant, says Inglish should be paid no more than Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who will make $104,100 this year.

Packard also characterized Inglish as a "terrific pitch man for transit socialism" and suggested he is rewarded for pushing a left-wing agenda. "He is the darling of (American Public Transportation Association), the national (transit) groups, if he can sell socialized transit and get us not to build freeways when we need them," he said.

Over the past five years, UTA has greatly expanded its transit system in Salt Lake County, the largest of six counties the authority services. Three light-rail spurs have been completed: University, Medical Center and the line from Sandy to Salt Lake City.

Other light-rail spurs are planned, including Airport, Draper, Mid-Jordan, West Valley. A 44-mile commuter rail line from Salt Lake to Pleasant View is expected to be built by 2008. It will eventually extend to Brigham City and Payson.

Bus rapid transit in Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties also is being studied.

Inglish was in Washington, D.C., Friday lobbying for federal funding of commuter rail, but Orrin T. Colby, president of the UTA board of trustees, defended attacks against Utah's top transit executives.

Besides Inglish, the 15 highest-paid UTA employees will each receive more than $100,000 this year. General counsel Katherine Pett will receive $228,980, including bonus.

Chief capital development officer Mike Allegra will receive $149,520 with bonus. Allegra has worked at UTA since 1978. He is the longest-serving executive behind Inglish and regional general manager Art Bowen.

"If we were to base salary on their performance only and not look at market conditions and not look at other kinds of things, they would deserve a higher salary than what they are getting," Colby said. "I don't think anyone in the transit industry garners as much federal funding on a comparable basis as what John and his staff are able to do."