FOLLOWUP: Sound Transit Board votes to hire Goran Sparrman as interim CEO for $385,000+

Three days after Sound Transit announced Goran Sparrman was under consideration to become interim CEO, board members voted this afternoon to hire him for a year. Outgoing CEO Julie Timm‘s last day will be tomorrow, and Sparrman will start work right after that. Timm was hired less than a year and a half ago for $375,000; Sparrman’s salary will be $385,000, plus a $30,000 signing bonus and $29,000 retention bonus if he stays the entire year, according to the board-motion document. Sparrman is a former director of the city of Bellevue’s transportation department as well as former deputy director and interim director of SDOT; most recently, he worked for private-sector infrastructure firm HNTB. Major ST action expected during his year at the helm is expected to include the board’s final vote on West Seattle light-rail routing and station locations, after the Final Environmental Impact Statement is published (currently expected “midyear”).

CarDriver January 11, 2024 (6:40 pm)

That’s considered to be going rate for a qualified leader? Wouldn’t have been able to find any qualified people for less than that? Will the taxpayers actually get their money’s worth for that kind of cash outlay?

Reed January 11, 2024 (8:08 pm)

The dude has a masters in civil engineering and 30 years of work experience; his salary is well within reason with that background.
- yeahthatsoundsright January 11, 2024 (8:57 pm)
  
  Agree. It’s also about Seattle needing to offer a competitive wage to get the best they can afford. CEO of Sound Transit? That’s not an easy job. We need someone good and that costs money. Now, he has to live up to that paycheck. Big bucks, big expectations.

IfYouDriveACarIllTaxTheStreet January 11, 2024 (6:53 pm)

Maybe round up to $500,000.00? Thanks RTA tax.

Alki resident January 11, 2024 (6:55 pm)

What an atrocity.

Rob January 11, 2024 (7:39 pm)

I’ll do it for 235 thousand save tax payments of 100 thousand

1994 January 11, 2024 (9:21 pm)

And remember Ms Timm collects her salary for another year as she is ‘on contract’ for the next year……as a consultant.

flimflam January 12, 2024 (7:15 am)

Yes and I still haven’t read any sort of official explaination as to why they are choosing to gift her with that year of pay either.

bolo January 11, 2024 (10:16 pm)

I like that he is a professional engineer. Seems like that should be a requirement for this job.

Chucky January 12, 2024 (7:16 am)

My uncle is an electrician at city light and makes a little over $300,000/Year. Why is everyone going crypto over the pay rate???

Jeff_P January 12, 2024 (11:20 am)

Salary is fine. Sounds like more people need to unionize or demand more from their employers here. Software Engineers are in the 400k range easily in Seattle.
Reed January 12, 2024 (12:08 pm)

Haters gonna hate.

Math January 12, 2024 (10:10 am)

If anything, he’s underpaid. If that bothers people, then go get an engineering degree, put in a couple decades of experience, and you too can make that. People can’t complain about our public sector failing us the last 4 yrs AND complain about better offers for better hires in the public sector.

DC January 12, 2024 (11:42 am)

I’d happily have my taxes go towards a $1mil+ salary for the ST CEO if it meant their billion dollar projects coming in on time and underbudget. We need a strong, competent leader whose able to stand up to often incompetent board members and contractors.

Defund Sound Transit January 12, 2024 (2:27 pm)

I agree with Alki resident. What an atrocity.

98126res January 13, 2024 (1:15 pm)

Hopefully they Rethink the West Seattle line! Way too much taxpayer money and years of construction and disruption for a segment that is not necessary.

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