LIST: 26 Top-Paid Riverside County Government Employees of 2015

Many of the highest paid officials in Riverside County government last year were in the healthcare sector, though the district attorney, sheriff's officials and county chief executive officer were also on the list, data published this week by the California State Controller's Office shows.

State Controller Betty Yee released the 2015 "Government Compensation in California" report to show how taxpayer funds were spent, and who was receiving what for working on the public payroll.

The data, available at http://www.publicpay.ca.gov, indicated that former Riverside County Department of Mental Health Director Jerry Wengerd received the largest composite salary in 2015 -- $783,052. That amount included base pay, "lump sum" distributions, such as for unused vacation time, per diem allowances and possibly a retirement payout, according to the controller's office. Wengerd retired in December.

Here are the top 26 highest paid from 2015:

1. Medical Director, Mental Health Services: $783,052
2. Assistant Sheriff B: $653,026
3. Staff Psychiatrist II: $479,803
4. Staff Psychiatrist II: $441,373
5. Staff Psychiatrist IV: $423,405
6. Chief Medical Officer: $369,053
7. County Executive Officer: $358,591
8. Staff Psychiatrist IV: $357,048
9. District Attorney: $352,136
10. Assistant County Executive Officer - Health System: $348,461
11. Staff Psychiatrist IV: $336,315
12. Staff Psychiatrist III: $335,352
13. Staff Psychiatrist III: $333,337
14. Sheriff's Captain B: $332,827
15. Staff Psychiatrist III: $331,168
16. Director Of Child Support Services: $329,008
17. Staff Psychiatrist II: $328,506
18. Medical Center Ambulatory Care Director: $325,552
19. Staff Psychiatrist III: $324,345
20. Staff Psychiatrist II: $318,311
21. Staff Psychiatrist IV: $317,873
22. Temporary Assistant - Per Diem - Seiu: $310,938
23. General Manager - Chief Engineer - Waste Resource Management District: $310,591
24. Sheriff's Captain B: $305,423
25. Information Technology Officer II: $303,722
26. General Manager-Chief Flood Control Engineer: $302,849

Click here to see the full list.

As the data above indicates, an assistant sheriff, unnamed, took in $653,026 in total wages -- 220 percent more than Sheriff Stan Sniff, whose total county income was $291,187, figures showed. In fact, Sniff's aggregate pay was also topped by two sheriff's captains, though it was unclear whether their compensation included early retirement packages.

In government speak, when the subordinate makes more than the superior, it's called "compaction." The Riverside County Board of Supervisors in 2014 hiked Sniff's salary in an attempt to fix the disparity.

Three staff psychiatrists at the Department of Mental Health were just behind the assistant sheriff, taking in an average $447,000 in 2015, according to the data. The mental health specialists were making sizable sums from overtime pay, figures showed.

Riverside University Health System Chief Medical Officer Dr. Arnold Tabuenca received $369,053 in total compensation, making him the sixth-highest paid official in county government.

CEO Jay Orr was the seventh at $358,591, while another psychiatrist was eighth at $357,048, according to the report.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin was No. 9, receiving income totaling $352,136, followed by Riverside University Health System Director Zareh Sarrafian, who received $348,461 in 2015, according to figures.

The controller's website indicated the average pay for a county employee last year was $60,773. The county employs more than 23,000 people, and roughly $1.44 billion in total wages were paid.

– City News Service contributed to this report. Image via Shutterstock.