The board of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System boosted the benefits of Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski by $12,445.45, according to the agenda documents and two attendees of the meeting.
The benefit bump brings the executive's total compensation to about $421,445.
The item passed unanimously Thursday on the consent calendar during open session, and no one questioned it, the agency's spokesman confirmed.
Last year, Jablonski received a $20,000 increase in pay during closed session, according to the UT San Diego Watchdog. However, after the raise was brought to light, he declined it.
Jablonski could not be reached for comment.
Back-up material in the board documents explained the rationale behind the increased benefit:
"Under Mr. Jablonski's guidance, MTS continues to be one of the most cost-effective transit agencies in the nation."
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The benefit approved Thursday allowed for Jablonski to accrue up to 80 hours of compensatory time in 2013 at a budget cost of $12,445.45.
He is currently allowed 41 paid days off. With the new comp time, that's the equivalent of about 10 and a half weeks off per year.
MTS's spokesman Rob Schupp said the benefit is to compensate Jablonski for the time he works on the weekend.
"Paul loves his job and he's always here," Schupp said. He added that Jablonski spends many weekends flying to Washington D.C., attending trade conferences and traveling on behalf of the agency.
"This benefit is in recognition that he represents not only MTS, but the industry as a whole," Schupp said.
MTS runs San Diego's bus and trolley systems.
