Board’s pay ranks in top 15

June 30--While jobs have been tough to come by in Stanly County, there's one part-time position that pays well if one is lucky enough to be voted into it: county commissioner.

Only 14 of the state's 100 counties pay their commissioners more than Stanly and most of their governance covers significantly larger populations that are part of metropolitan regions.

Stanly County Board of Commissioners chairman earns $17,890 annually, while the other five, soon to be seven, earn $16,632, respectively. That compensation includes a salary of $9,432 (chairman, $10,690), in-county travel allowance of $6,000 and a cellphone stipend of $1,200. All proceeds are paid on a bi-weekly basis. Both the travel and phone allocation is paid regardless of the actual expense.

If the commissioners travel outside of Stanly County they are entitled to additional reimbursement.

Additional compensation includes the same health insurance coverage afforded to county employees. The allotted health cost for each commissioner is $9,933. Chairman Tony Dennis' health insurance, however, costs taxpayers $4,403 because his coverage is supplemental to Medicare.

Each commissioner also receives dental insurance at $341 per year.

According to the Institute of Government, county commissioners here earn more than the five counties contiguous to Stanly. Three of those counties have larger populations, including Union and Cabarrus that have more than three times the number of residents as Stanly.

Data shows county commissioners in Cumberland (Fayetteville) and Buncombe (Asheville) counties are the highest paid at $27,692 and $26,474, respectively. The chairman in each earns even more.

Alleghany County and its population of 21,000 pays the least at $3,000 annually for commissioners, with the chairman receiving $4,800.

Stanly, with a population of 60,810, is not alone among the state's top 15 percent with modest populations. At 63,000 people, Chatham County pays its commissioners more than $21,000 per year, ranking fifth highest.

While Stanly commissioners rank in the state's top echelon in pay, its county manager ranks 54th in the state in terms of annual compensation, data shows.

Todd McGee of the N.C. Board of County Commissioners said each county commission sets its own compensation, adding there is no formula to determine a rate of pay, such as population based. The organization does not track data as to what other perks other than salaries county commissioners receive. Although he did not have any specific numbers, McGee said some counties provide its commissioners health insurance.

Stanly's Vice Chairman Lindsey Dunevant said he had no idea the elected position paid anything when he filed for office. Neither has he given thought about the amount of the commission's pay nor how it compares to others, he said.

"It hasn't ever been important to me one way or the other," Dunevant said.

At Monday's special meeting for the 2014-15 budget, Commissioner Peter Asciutto talked about adding the board's salaries to the Stanly County website for better transparency. He argued that N.C. Rep. Justin Burr (R-Stanly) misrepresented his pay during their primary election whereby Burr defeated Asciutto.

Burr singled Asciutto out for receiving a YMCA membership ($294 yearly) at taxpayers expense. Stanly commissioners are afforded the same wellness benefits of county employees in regard to membership rates at the YMCA. Asciutto is the only county commissioner to take advantage of the gym membership.

At Monday's board meeting Asciutto said he, too, didn't realize commissioners earned a salary when he first ran for office.

"I feel people should know how much county commissioners earn," Asciutto said.

He also defended the commission's compensation.

"I do think we need some form of compensation," he said.

"If we didn't then only wealthy people would serve as commissioners."

Thanks to Burr's legislation Stanly taxpayers will soon be paying more for its county commission. The Stanly County Board of Commissioners has been expanded to seven districts, which means in December two new commissioners will be sworn in and thereby added to the county's payroll. The financial impact of two additional commissioners will cost county taxpayers as much as $56,357 annually.

During budget talks, commissioners decided not to allow the board to be eligible for the 1 percent cost of living adjustment that will be extended to county employees for the new fiscal year. Last year, the board's compensation was increased in July by 2.5 percent.

Earlier this month Albemarle City Council unanimously passed a resolution to increase its base pay for elected officials while eliminating specific compensation for called or emergency meetings. The mayor of Albemarle earns $937 per month, or $11,244 yearly. The remaining seven councilors earn $776 monthly, or $9,312 annually. Those rates include $100 monthly for travel allowance.

The city also offers health insurance to those who choose, but it's only for council members and not their families. While there is no cellphone stipend, there is a $49.95 Internet provision.

The N.C. League of Municipalities nor the Institute of Government have no data to compare the city's rate of pay for its Town Council with others in the state.

Stanly's nine-member Board of Education also receives monthly compensation. Its chairman receives $325 monthly, with each board member getting $225. They receive an additional $25 for any special called meetings. All board members are provided a cellphone, or $52.76 per month. Otherwise, they receive no additional benefits, such as insurance.

There are other elected officials in the county who earn no compensation, instead volunteering their services.

The town councils of Oakboro, Stanfield, Locust, Misenheimer and Red Cross all serve their municipalities as volunteers.

New London pays monthly its mayor $375 and its councilors $167.

Norwood's mayor receives $167.15 monthly, with commissioners getting $83.58.

The mayor of Richfield collects $150 and the council $75 per month.

Badin's elected officials each get $50 monthly.

To submit story ideas, contact Ritchie Starnes at (704) 982-2121 ext. 28 or email ritchie@stanlynewspress.com.

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