Wake commissioner: Cut board pay 10 percent

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County Commissioner Joe Bryan is requesting that commissioners take a 10 percent pay cut to help ease the economic problems in the county.

“Often times, you will hear elected officials say, ‘We understand. We feel what is going on.’ Here is a case where we can actually lead by example,” Bryan said.

Not all commissioners are in favor of reducing their pay.

Commissioner Lindy Brown said the $19,095 salary she receives is her only source of income. Brown said she quit her job to dedicate more time to public service.

“I attended anywhere from four to six events a day back to back, and that did not include going to our regular county commission meeting or our agenda meeting,” Brown said.

Because of lagging revenue from sales taxes and real estate deed stamps, fiscal analysts recently projected a budget deficit in Wake County of at least $23 million for the 2008-09 year.

Commission Chairman Harold Webb said he will research what commissioners make in other counties before making a decision on the proposal.

Commissioners in Orange County make $13,996, and Durham's make $18,000 yearly.

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I THINK SHE QUIT HER JOB TO SET ON HER BEHINE SO SHE COULD MAKE HER LIVEING OFF THE TAXPAYERS DO AS I DO HAVE TWO JOBS DIDNT YOU ASK FOR THE ONE YOU WERE ELECTED TO

woodrowboyd2
March 4, 2009 8:15 p.m.

I think taking a pay cut is a good start. I think some university professors made the choice to do this as well.

It would be awesome to see those commissioners and other politicians who don't need the "stipend" to give it up completely. You never know how many jobs and houses they may save!

something2say
March 4, 2009 4:03 p.m.

They also serve on other regional and state wide committees representing Wake County. I think Joe Bryan is on CAMPO and a statewide County Commisioners group.

ezLikeSundayMorning
March 4, 2009 3:37 p.m.

I appreciate someone near the top volunteering a pay cut. It's a nice gesture. However, the little that I know about county commissioners, leads me to believe the $20K they receive a year is not much for the work they do (at least in Wake County). They regularly make decisions on how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars. Let's make sure we pay them appropriately, otherwise, as someone else stated, only the ultra-rich would be able to serve, and I think we have enough of that going on already.

I-40 Warrior
March 4, 2009 1:59 p.m.

voice of reason 23 posted, "...um, really? Do you know how many hours she invests into her job as a commissioner? You expect her to do that all for free, and hold a regular job to pay her bills. That's ridiculous. All you end up doing is making it so only the rich can take the government jobs."

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So what is the purpose of these "4 to 6 meetings" she attends "back to back" on a daily basis? What does "she do at them"? What did she contribute?

Or is she JUST CAMPAIGNING on a full time basis at TAXPAYER EXPENSE? Does she bill the county for "TRAVEL, MEALS AND OTHER INCIDENTALS" for all these meetings? What does her "TRAVEL" check look like EVERY MONTH?

I think people need to start looking at that!!! CUT THEIR EXPENSE ACCOUNTS BY 50%...that would allow Ms. Brown to attend 2 to 4 back to back meetings a day AND GET HERSELF A REAL JOB ON THE SIDE!

affirmativediversity
March 4, 2009 1:54 p.m.