SLO County’s top administrative officer leaving with a $146,000 exit package
San Luis Obispo County’s top administrative officer is leaving the county with a hefty severance package — and an agreement that neither party will say anything negative about the other.
County Administrative Officer Wade Horton announced his resignation last month, and his last day on the job is May 1.
After Horton ends his work, the county will continue to pay him a monthly salary of $24,394 for six months, totaling $146,364, according to his separation agreement.
Horton will also collect all accumulated vacation and sick leave, though the contract did not state the amount he has accrued or how much money that entails.
The agreement also included a non-disparagement clause, which means Horton and the county will not “disparage, defame, discredit, malign, ridicule or slander” each other, the agreement said.
If Horton is sued for his work at the county, the county will defend him in court, according to the agreement.
Horton declined to talk to The Tribune about the separation agreement or his departure.
“It has been an absolute privilege to serve the board, organization and residents of San Luis Obispo County for the last eight years,” he said in a SLO County news release in March.
As administrative officer, Horton oversaw the county budget and staff — navigating the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent series of destructive storms.
Horton was hired as county administrative officer in 2017, after serving as the SLO County Public Works Director and deputy director of SLO’s utilities department.
Why did top administrative officer resign?
Horton resigned during closed session before a performance review with the Board of Supervisors at its March 21 meeting.
Performance reviews are a routine process for county staff, Supervisor Bruce Gibson told The Tribune in March. The board conducted annual reviews of former SLO County Administrative Officer Dan Buckshi but hadn’t reviewed Horton in a long time, Gibson said.
Supervisor Jimmy Paulding explained that Horton put the performance review on the agenda after supervisors indicated to him in individual meetings that they were interested in a review.
Paulding said he didn’t know how many supervisors requested Horton’s evaluation.
Horton has not publicly shared why he resigned.
The board voted unanimously to accept Horton’s resignation at the March 21 meeting, and shared nothing but praise for his work at the county.
“I can’t thank Mr. Horton enough for his public service, his significant contributions as CAO over the past five years, and for graciously agreeing to stay on through April to assist in finalizing the budget and assuring a smooth transition to new leadership,” Paulding said in his newsletter in March.
Supervisor John Peschong echoed Paulding’s compliments.
“He is a true public servant that has made a real difference in the county throughout his tenure,” Peschong said in the news release.
The county will now embark on a nationwide search for Horton’s replacement.
Horton hasn’t publicly shared what he plans to do next.
