In this week's cover story, SFR explores alleged problems in the New Mexico Department of Health. Given that some of the allegations concern hiring practices, and that, like most state government agencies, the DOH may face additional budget cuts and staff position eliminations in the upcoming legislative session, here's a brief look at what some DOH higher-ups in exempt positions earn.

(Hat tip to Watchdog, the Albuquerque Journal's investigative website, for these numbers, valid as of Oct. 3, 2009.) An asterisk denotes people mentioned in the cover story; other notes are explained after the jump.

*Alfredo Vigil, Secretary of Health: $184,395.70**

Troy Jones, Hospital Administrator: $115,404.80

Jessica Sutin, Deputy Secretary: $109,146.13

*Dorothy "Duffy" Rodriguez, Deputy Secretary: $104,551.57

Katrina Hotrum, Deputy Secretary: $103,999.17

Robert Mayer, Chief Information Officer: $98,980.00

Samuel Howarth, Division Director I: $94,565.45

David Rodriguez, Division Director II: $92,323.21

Janice Rogers, Division Director II: $92,323.21

John Callaghan, Division Director II: $90,318.41

***Kay Bird, Assistant to the Cabinet Secretary: $86,118.32

Kathyleen Kunkel, General Counsel: $85,967.48

Kristine Jacobus, Special Projects Coordinator I: $76,874.18

*Deborah Busemeyer, Public Information Officer II: $76,407.39

Tom Trujillo, Special Projects Coordinator II: $75,424.88

Joby Wallace, Special Projects Coordinator I: $61,500.57

*Mentioned in the cover story

**Vigil is the fourth-highest-paid exempt state employee and the highest-paid of Gov. Bill Richardson's cabinet secretaries.

***Bird manages public records requests for the Department of Health.