Ex-staffers still among the highest paid state of Georgia workers

The two highest paid employees in state government in 2016 no longer work for the state. In fact, the highest paid University System worker had resigned as president of a school he ran the year before.

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of state pay records shows Ricardo Azziz, who stepped down as president of Augusta University in mid-2015, made $1.735 million last year.

The highest paid state employee in fiscal 2016 is also no longer working for the state. But he ran the Georgia Ports Authority during fiscal 2016. Curtis Foltz, the executive director of the authority before retiring last summer, was paid $1.947 million, according to state figures. Like Azziz, Foltz received a big payout when he left the post.

The highest paid school superintendent in the state once again was Alvin Wilbanks of Gwinnett County, who has led the largest school system in the state since the mid-1990s. Unlike the other two, he’s still running Gwinnett County schools.

To see the complete top 10 list for University System, state and school system employees, and find out what other ex-college presidents are still getting state paychecks, check out our story at myajc.com

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