PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center’s chief executive officer is in line for a 5 percent pay raise.
Eric Lewis, who now earns $193,600 per year, would earn $203,278 as CEO if the seven commissioners approve the proposed raise Dec. 3.
Lewis was promoted from chief financial officer to CEO in December 2006. He earned $160,000 per year until the board raised his pay by 10 percent in 2012 and again in 2013.
If the proposed 5 percent raise is granted, Lewis would still earn less than his counterparts at smaller hospitals in the region, Chief Human Resources Officer Richard Newman said.
Hospital commissioners will consider raising the CEO’s salary “in order to maintain our market competitiveness and enhance the continued stability of OMC,” board Chairman Jim Leskinovitch said.
“We certainly don’t want to lose our CEO,” he added.
“This will bring the salary closer to the market rate.”
OMC’s Human Resources Committee recommended the raise, a $350-per-month car allowance and a $50 monthly cellphone stipend for the CEO, committee member John Beitzel said.
Lewis did not attend the meeting.
Here is a comparison of CEO compensation, number of beds and estimated revenue of area hospitals at the end of 2013:
■ OMC, 78 beds, $146 million revenue, CEO salary: $193,600.
■ Jefferson Healthcare, 25 beds, $73 million revenue, CEO salary: $236,775.
■ Forks Community Hospital, 25 beds, $23 million revenue, CEO salary: $176,010.
■ Grays Harbor Community Hospital, 104 beds, $104 million revenue, CEO salary: $257,689.
■ Whidbey General Hospital, 25 beds, $88 million revenue, CEO salary $232,156.
■ Island Hospital, 43 beds, $87 million revenue, CEO salary: $350,096.
■ Mason General Hospital, 25 beds, $86 million revenue, CEO salary: $246,936.
Newman compiled the data from Gallagher Surveys, Milliman and the state Department of Health.
Budget, levy increase
In other news from the Wednesday board meeting, commissioners approved a 2015 budget and a 1 percent property tax levy increase, the maximum allowed by law.
The budget projects $152.5 million in operating revenue, $150 million in operating expenses and a 2 percent margin.
Chief Financial Officer Julie Rukstad said the 1 percent property tax increase represents an additional $39,038 in revenue.
The owner of a $150,000 home will pay about 89 cents more for the hospital levy in 2015, Commissioner John Nutter said.
“We don’t take tax increases lightly,” said Nutter, a member of the board Budget, Audit and Compliance Committee.
“We realize that our communities help support us, and we greatly appreciate that.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
