UTA executives get promotions but not raises

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees has promoted general manager John Inglish to chief executive officer.

Two other UTA employees also were promoted, the quasi-public agency announced Thursday. Michael Allegra, who has been the assistant general manager and chief capital development officer, is now the general manager. And Bruce Jones, who has been UTA's general counsel, now adds president of government resources to his title.

No one received pay raises with the promotions.

The promotions don't become official until the monthly trustees meeting on April 28, when they will be voted on, although the three men are already working in the positions, said trustee co-chairman Orrin Colby Jr.

Last month in the final days of the session, the Utah Legislature passed SB272, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton. The bill altered the statute that regulates UTA to allow the new titles and defines how UTA will venture into real estate development, which is its next goal.

However, the bill was amended three times, and passed despite some opposition from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups was one to vote against it.

"I guess the first concern I have is the amount of money that goes to executives in the salary structure," Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said Thursday. "How does that affect the profitability? How does that affect the fare box? And the more executives you have with the titles, the more money that's going to go into administration and the less will go into operations."

In 2008, Inglish earned $299,380, according to records obtained by the Deseret News. His performance bonus was $14,005 and his transportation allowance was $9,750.

In 2008, Allegra earned $222,115 in salary, a $20,000 performance bonus and a $9,473 transportation allowance. Jones earned $210,943 in salary, a $28,350 performance bonus and an $11,372 transportation allowance.

But UTA has long maintained that its management is top-flight and worth the money.

"I think it's significant to note that the work that John and Mike have done over the years I've been on the board," Colby said. "We've received over $1 billion for construction and operation of bus and rail systems. It's not insignificant; I can't count that high."