Today’s Chronicle of Philanthropy is reporting that Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice is calling on a largely taxpayer-funded nonprofit agency that serves young offenders to rein in pay for its top executive, who earned more than $1.2-million in 2010.

Department head, Wansley Walters, detailed the state’s complaints in a letter last month to William Schossler, president of the Tallahassee-based Henry & Rilla White Foundation, after a routine audit showed the organization paid Mr. Schossler $397,940 in salary and $862,837 in other compensation.

The foundation, which provides residential treatment, counseling, and other services for troubled juveniles, has 23 state contracts worth $10.2-million. The controversy comes amid calls by Florida lawmakers for closer scrutiny of contracts with private providers.

For his part, Mr. Schossler said his pay reflected a boost to his retirement package approved by the foundation’s board. “You work your butt off for 25 years, and then you get ready to retire, and somebody decides to pay you some retirement money and somebody doesn’t like that,” he said.

Tags: Florida, Foundation, Henry & Rilla White, nonprofit, troubled juveniles