Board OKs $11,000 raise for high-speed rail CEO

The board that oversees California’s High Speed Rail Authority has approved a raise for its chief executive, who makes $365,000 a year.

Board members unanimously approved a 3 percent raise for CEO Jeff Morales at their meeting Tuesday in Sacramento. That amounts to about $11,000 a year.

The 3 percent raise was recommended by CalHR, the state’s human resources agency, and matches those given to other senior rail authority staffers in July.

Morales was named CEO last May.

The board had approved a $25,000 bonus if Morales met certain benchmarks in his first year on the job, but he did not get the payout.

Officials have said work will begin soon on the first 30-mile stretch of high-speed rail planned for the Central Valley.