An examination of county payroll records reveals the number of school employees earning more than $100,000 doubled from 213 in 2007 to 450 in fiscal 2009, which started in July.

In addition, the size of raises given to school system employees dwarfs those of other governments and the private sector.

The Capital examined the records as a follow-up to a story that ran last summer. Checking in about one calendar year, but two fiscal years later, the newspaper also found that 62 school employees received pay hikes of more than $20,000 over the two years and four saw raises of more than $30,000 over two years.

That didn't happen for county employees. The top two-year raise in county government - which went to House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis, for his job as county parks administrator - was $12,852.

In all of county government just 15 more employees earn six-figure salaries now than in 2007.

Raises outside the government couldn't compare, either.

"That is out of the norm in the private sector," said Bob Burdon, president of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. "The private sector is seeing anything from 3 to 4 percent annual salary increases each year."

But school officials defended their raises, saying Anne Arundel needs them to compete with surrounding counties for teachers, principals and administrators who are in high demand.

Still, the figures shocked one local education activist who questioned the salaries granted to positions like "performance officer."

"What are they being rewarded for? Certainly it's not the academic achievement of our kids," said Tom Frank, education chair of the Greater Crofton Council who bid unsuccessfully for the school board last spring. "What is the criteria that would allow someone to get a pay increase at one-third of their salaries?"

Raises

About two years ago, the schools made a concerted effort to raise teacher salaries, said Oscar Davis, chief negotiator for the school system. They gave the teachers' union two years of 6 percent raises followed by a 5 percent raise this year, hoping that would put the county in a better position to compete for ever-more-scarce teachers.

Those raises were added to the average 4 percent longevity raises many employees also received.

Principals also were given 6 percent raises in an effort to stop neighboring counties like Howard and Carroll from stealing away Anne Arundel's principals.

"We're a good training ground," said Bob Furguson, president of the principals' union. "Then somebody comes along and can offer you more money... We're losing the benefit of the time and effort and resources that have gone into training people."

Last year, Anne Arundel placed fifth in the state for highest teacher starting salary - up from 19th, where it was a few years ago - and 13th for minimum principal salary, according to school officials and state data.

And once pay for teachers and principals was raised, higher-level salaries had to go up, too, so jobs with greater responsibility were still attached to higher salaries, schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell said.

"There's a question of equity and fairness," he said.

But 100 of the employees who earn six-figure salaries aren't in unions.

Forty are at the "executive level," with titles like "director of school performance" and "chief information officer," and 60 are considered "professional support staff" with titles like "supervisor of print and design" and "manager of planning." Their pay scale is approved by the school board, but Dr. Maxwell is the one who implements it, said Enrique Melendez, president of the board.

School system spokesman Bob Mosier said salaries for top-tier employees are determined by market rate and also each person's contributions to the school system.

"I don't think anybody for a second should be under the impression that the folks on the higher end of the pay scale are working 9-to-5, five days a week," he said. "These are folks who put in extraordinary efforts."

Mr. Mosier also pointed to two reorganizations that saved the schools about $241,246, but drove up the salaries of some high-level employees who took new jobs.

For example, when the schools administration was realigned into 12 districts, Christopher Truffer went from supervising middle schools to supervising the Annapolis and Southern school districts. He received a $33,373 salary bump in part for taking on additional responsibility in the new position.

And former Chief Facilities Officer Alex Szachnowicz received a $34,322 raise when he was put in the newly created position of chief operating officer. Now he oversees several departments in addition to the facilities division.

Other governments

The county pays out much less for raises and six-figure salaries than the schools: 111 employees earn more than $100,000 this year, compared with 96 in 2007.

And just 2.8 percent of the county's full-time workforce earns six figures, compared with 5 percent in the school system.

"This administration runs a very tight fiscal ship," said Dennis Callahan, County Executive John R. Leopold's chief administrative officer. "Very limited pay raises, percentage-wise, even hiring freezes. There are some (budget) areas we can't control, and the salaries you're referring to (in the schools) is one of those areas."

A handful of Annapolis city government employees received notable raises. Salaries of the city's transportation, human resources and parks directors all went up by $18,472, and the fire chief's salary rose by $11,549.

Kimla Milburn, the human resources director, said the largest raises were given when a few employees reached multiple planned raises all at once.

"It may be one of the three, or all," she said. "Someone could get a merit and longevity in one year, which would be a little over 10 percent increase."

More on the way?

More pay hikes may be coming for school employees.

Under a new performance pay system meant to boost accountability, about 58 high-level employees are eligible for raises or bonuses based on merit, rather than length of service. Some may receive additional raises as early as this year.

Principals are contracted for two more years at 6 percent, and the teachers are negotiating a new contract this fall that could continue their raises at the same rate.

"It's a complex issue," Mr. Mosier said, "But in any industry, whether it's government or private sector, if you want the high-end people, you've got to compensate."

Staff writers Erin Cox and Liam Farrell contributed to this report.