National Underground Railroad salaries a windfall for executives Records requests show executives nearly doubled government salaries

Until now, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has maintained sky-high salaries for its executives are needed to attract the top-flight talent these executives supposedly represent. Freedom Center spokesman Paul Bernish told the Cincinnati Enquirer on June 22, 2007: "their expertise and professional standing justified their high salaries."

In contrast, COAST has been critical of the profligate spending on executive compensation at the Freedom Center, read here, subsidized with your hard-earned tax dollars.

So, COAST decided to have its attorney ask the federal agencies from where they were recruited just how much money these executives made before joining the taxpayer subsidized so-called Freedom Center.

Here's what we found:

1) Spencer Crew, who was recruited from the Smithsonian Institution, got a raise from $171,500 annually to more than $320,000 at the Freedom Center, nearly $150,000 more per year, an 87% increase ! The letter reporting Mr. Crew's public salary is here. Mr. Crew recently announced his departure from the Freedom Center in this news article.

2) Donald Murphy, who was recruited form the National Park Service saw his government salary jump from $148,512 per year to more than $270,000 annually at the supposedly non-profit Freedom Center, a bump of nearly $130,000 per year, an 81% increase! The letter reporting Mr. Murphy's public salary is here.

"What more evidence to taxpayers and lawmakers need than to see the grossly disproportionate salary histories of Freedom Center executives," said COAST Chairman Jim Urling. "It is a shame that a non-profit corporation so willingly squander its tax dollars. Its a continuing outrage that our elected officials hand over tax cash to them to allow it. Principled lawmakers could end this outrage tomorrow by stopping the flow of cash."

In the past year, the Freedom Center has suckered lawmakers out of more than $2.8 million in tax dollars. Cincinnati City Council, led by big-spenders Chris Bortz, Leslie Ghiz and Jeff Berding, gave the Center an additional $800,000 this year. The State of Ohio - pushed by its chief sponsor Michelle Schneider -- gave the Center $2 million last year. The Freedom Center has announced a permanent drive for a $3 million per year taxpayer subsidy.

Freedom Center CEO John Pepper has shoveled more than $50,000 in cash donations to lawmakers to perpetuate this flow of tax dollars.

Interestingly, Mr. Murphy left employment at the National Parks Service under a cloud of scandal relating to questionable testimony in a court action. One would think a discount on his salary would be appropriate under these circumstances.

Mr. Crew and Love Collins, two of the over-paid Freedom Center Executives, recently announced their departure from the Center. That's good for taxpayers who will save more than $500,000 annually with their departure - but the Freedom Center has not stated their severance packages.

COAST has reported that the public has invested more than $60 million in tax dollars to date in the Freedom Center, well in excess of ½ of its total capital costs. John Pepper, Freedom Center CEO, has announced that the Freedom Center intends to enslave Hamilton County taxpayers to the tune of $3 million per year forever due to their mounting losses - after initially promising not to seek public subsidy after the Center was built.

Before opening, the Freedom Center projected attendance at more than 1 million annually. In reality, fewer than 100,000 paying visitors attend. COAST estimates that there are fewer than 40,000 paid adult admissions per year, resulting in a public subsidy per paying adult of around $75 per rotation of the turn style. The remaining attendees are school children on field trips, almost all from local schools.

Please call your Council member and state legislator to bring an end to Freedom Center funding.