An investigative team responsible for gathering information regarding the proposed city administrator position has completed a survey involving other communities. The information, which is available for viewing at City Hall, has been presented to members of the Auburn City Council  and made available to the public during the Monday, March 8, council meeting.
This newspaper has followed up with the communities surveyed and asked additional questions. The communities surveyed were: Central City, Fairbury, Wayne, Nebraska City and Beatrice.
The following information was obtained through phone interviews with each of the community’s current city administrator:
All of the communities shared commonalities within the job description of city administrator, with the exception of a few additional duties. For comparison purposes, information included in the City Administrator proposal and the proposed position description for the new Auburn position have been included.  
Annual Salary
Auburn — $92,000 plus all other related benefits received by the City or Board of Public Works employees
Central City – $71,000
Fairbury – $70,000, plus an additional $3,000 for job-related expenses
Wayne – $85,000, which includes health insurance, plus an additional $15,000 for job-related expenses
Nebraska City – $80,000 to $97,000
Beatrice – $138,000
Management Budget
The cities’ annual management budgets typically include salaries, health insurance costs, administrative costs, among several items. The following numbers are approximates. And, not all city’s had this information available as of press time.
Central City – $400,000
Fairbury – Money comes out of general fund, which the city’s last completed audit, showed $1,749,000
Nebraska City – $752,000
Beatrice – $600,040
Desired Experience
Auburn — A college degree or experience in a related field is preferred for the position, but not mandatory.
Central City – Preferred is a Master’s Degree in public administration and seeks someone who has business experience and experienced in operating an organization.
Fairbury – Someone with a combination of higher education and work-related experience.
Wayne – Requires either a Master’s degree in business administration or public administration.
Nebraska City – Requires a Bachelor’s degree in either business administration, accounting or other related fields, as well as at least two years of public administration experience.
Beatrice – Requires public administration experience.
Utility Management
Auburn has a BPW General Manager and a Mayor/Council form of government. The proposal called for the City Administrator to be responsible for managing the electrical, water, wastewater, city services and police departments; fire chief and city building inspector; city hall, library,  and parks and recreation personnel; short and long range planning and fulfilling a number of other duties as deemed necessary.
Fairbury, Wayne and Nebraska City all have a separate utility manager separate from the city administrator. Beatrice’s city administrator also serves as the utility general manager. Central City responded with a not-applicable response.
Employees
Central City – 26
Auburn – 26
Fairbury – 47
Wayne – 43
Nebraska City – 48
Beatrice – 136
Population
Central City – 2,998
Auburn – 3, 350
Fairbury – 4,262
Wayne – 5,600
Nebraska City – 7,228
Beatrice – 12,400