Commissioner Pay Hike Proposed To Accompany Tax Increase
Should County Commissioners vote themselves a pay increase? The proposal presented to the Legislative committee and approved by a four to three vote to recommend approval by the full commission is to pay each commissioner thirty dollars if they attend a committee meeting whether they are members of that committee or not. It seems some commissioners are not please with the pay they agreed to when accepting the position. As was stated this morning by one commissioner, It cost a lot to run for office then drive to town to attend these meetings, I just think the people want us to be paid for our expenses to serve them. Another commissioner stated, "Every commissioner knew what the job was about and how much they would be paid before they took the job. They agreed to the pay then why change it now". This was the sentiment echoed by other commissioners in the room. One commissioner stated, " Some of our commissioners have to drive fifteen to nineteen miles to attend these meetings. The state pays their people forty cents a mile it don't seem wrong to pay commissioners thirty dollars to attend these meetings". Correct me if I'm wrong but would forty cents a mile for a twenty mile, forty mile round trip, not be sixteen dollars about half the thirty dollars proposed.
Now comes the question, is it appropriate to increase the pay of commissioners at the same time they are acknowledging a tax increase will be necessary in the near future? Seems to me the need is for a decrease in spending not another increase. Call your commissioners and voice your support of opposition to this proposal. It is scheduled to be voted on at the next full Commission Meeting. Allen Barrett
Now comes the question, is it appropriate to increase the pay of commissioners at the same time they are acknowledging a tax increase will be necessary in the near future? Seems to me the need is for a decrease in spending not another increase. Call your commissioners and voice your support of opposition to this proposal. It is scheduled to be voted on at the next full Commission Meeting. Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:30 AM
53 Comments:
I don't think the commissioners make nearly enough money. Perhaps if they were paid what they should be paid we could get more qualified ones. I urge everyone to call their commssioners in support of a flat monthly fee for their services. Perhaps we should pay benefits also.
As a way to offset these increases, perhaps we should have fewer commissioners?
The robbers want to dip further into the public purse . It's like watching hogs at the trough -they're NEVER satisfied . They'll want John Q Public to pay them to use the bathroom next .
The intent of committees is to SHARE the work of Giles Counties business without having need for all 21 of the commissioners to be in attendance at every meeting .
If commissioners are NOT elected to a committee they have no more business attending (or speaking !) at that committee than John Q does .
They should stay at home and feed their goats and hogs and NOT try to have John Q pay for them a trip into town .
Call ALL the commissioners you know and tell them to vote this ridiculous proposal down yet again (They've tried it before )
Prune Juice -making things happen
I have several thoughts regarding Prune Juice's comments, but I will just ask this. Do you really believe that the commissioners are robbers? Do you really believe that for less than $1,000 per year that make enough, and that they have enough authority and power to be considered robbers? I suggest you really look into it before answering.
Wake up anoymous at the committee meeting this morning Mr Barrett stated that commissioners pay ranges from just under a thousand dollar to over three thousands there was no dispute from the 12 commissioners and county executive in the room. If you think a better quality of commissioner will become available if the pay is raise what happens to the idea expressed by all the commissioners, "I didn't take this job for the money I just wanted to serve my community".
Mr Campbell put it very clearly today when he said "the budget for the commission is already exceeded. Every commissioner serving right now knew before they were elected what the pay would be, they chose to run for the job and the pay should be the same".
Some of the commissioners are trying to do a good job and some wouldn't know which end was up if they was paid a $1000 dollars a meeting.
728 Thanks - & tell Campbell others who say no thanks if you see them. We have a slim majority of very good commissioners & a few connivers. I do appreciate those who do a good a good conscientious job & donate so much time to help us.
meant to sa thanks them for saying no, should have beed ... "said no":, & thanks for doing it
I am not for commisioners that are not on committees for getting paid but as far as going to those meetings I think it is a good idea. That way when the committee recommendations come before the full commission they know beforehand what they are voting for. It is very clear that some commissioners have no clue what they are voting for so for a commissioner to make an educated vote is a great idea.
You are beginning to answer some of the points that are trying to be made.
1. The commissioners are not paid enough money to get quality commissioners to run.
2. Commissioners should be paid a flat fee so that they should participate in all meetings.
3. There should be less of them so that we are not "stuck" with unqualified commissoners because not enough quality candidates run.
It is no secret that our county commission is a joke. Let's begin the process of doing something to correct it!
I think county commissioners should meet at least some minimum levels of formal education. I'm told that there is no such requirement and that anyone can become a commissioner if they get enough votes. Having said that, I also think we have some really good commissioners who try to do what's right for the county, even in the face of constant and continual ridicule from the little group of malcontents who resent them.
sounds like dumbo saying the bad ones are good because the good people think they're bad.
asecretary..
Sounds like you are pondering which came first, the chicken or the egg. Are you always so pleasant?
Each commissioner gets a copy of Minutes from every committee meeting held. If we read those Minutes we are be well informed as to what comes up in the full commission.
Each commissioner makes a personal choice to attend a committee meeting of which they are not a member. We raised the commissioner fees not long ago, we don't need to burden the public with additional pay for commissioners.
I hear Commissioner Campbell made the statement that each person knew what the fees were before they ran for office and they should be satisfied and accept that. I agree.
It sounds to me like you think the current commissoner system is working well. If you are happy with the way county business is being run, then leave everything like it is. If not, then its time to do something different.
By the way, Tommy Campbell has everyone fooled into thinking he is a good commissioner.
If you think the current committee system is working, then go to a full commission meeting and ask questions about the said subject. You will then see how many commissioners actually know something about said resolutions.....including those on the committee. It is very embarrassing!
Campbell is a long way from having everyone fooled about being a good commissioner, but he did get this one right.
It's obvious that several commissioners never attend committee meetings unless they are on them, some don't show up even then. As for reading the minutes I would guess more show up for the meetings than read the notes.
anonymous..
Here's a question being thrown out for consideration. Do you think there would be all this criticism of our commissioners had wab and ross been elected to it last year? I rather doubt it, don't you?
I think things would be much worse than they are today. Those guys have no negotiating skill, they are hardheaded, and can not work with anyone.
By the way, it doesn't matter what I think. The people spoke loudly and clearly!
Yes, they said NO to wab and a few of his buddies. Oh well!
Why would they need negotiating skills when commissioners are told the way it's going to be so vote the right way or else. Ask commissioners how much negotiating was done on the city's plan to raise the sales tax and build a five million dollar stadium at Sam Davis Park. If it's built what are the odds some effort will be made to change the name?
Reedy & Lovell made nice speeches - made me want to get a basket, hot dogs, lemonaide, & a bike for 2. I'm all for it! How about $100,000? The other $4,900,000 is absurdity with millions attached to it!!!
Has anyone ever paid attention to the average person in Pulaski? We have people who need a break, not a breakdown! This city and county will go broke with a bang!
Giles county is (was?) one of the few & last areas where government hasn't completely taken over. Sounds like the liberals, Spear, Lovell, Reedy, and some others want to build a giant government complex like Mecca so they can have a circle of shantys & poor beggars all around them, with hands out & begging for their blessings!
You whiners just never stop, do you? And to call Mr. Reedy a liberal just proves how far out in "left" field you people really are. What a joke. And you expect people to take you seriously?
You whiners just never stop, do you? And to call Mr. Reedy a liberal just proves how far out in "left" field you people really are. What a joke. And you expect people to take you seriously?
I agree with the poster who called Roger Reedy a non-liberal. He is without a doubt, one of the most ethical men I have had the pleasure to meet. Just because someone doesn't agree with someone, doesn't make either party wrong....sometimes two people have to agree to disagree. His votes may not always be popular, but I can assure you that they are made after much prayerful consideration and with an honest attempt to look not just at the immediate problems, but long term problems as well. His votes may even hurt him personally but he was elected to vote on his constituents best interest and I defy anyone to provide PROOF of illegal or intentional unethical behavior on his part. (Please notice the key word in that last sentence..."INTENTIONAL".) And if proof is provided, I can also assure you, that if you go to Roger with the proof, you will receive his sincere and immediate apology, and a determined effort to right the wrong! OH, that my commisioners and board member had a tenth of the ethics that Mr. Reedy had...I'm stuck with Flacy and Norman...."nuff said."
Please don't respond with a bunch of innuendo, especially those who don't like anyone or anything. Offer a suggestion, don't attack Mr. Reedy personally, which is a futile request I know, but only give concrete examples of how his actions have had a detrimental effect on his district. If it's personal, go to him, isn't that the way to make this blog effective? If we all just need a place to vent, someone with more computer savvy than I possess should start a blog for just that purpose. Let's use this one for it's intended purpose, to make Giles County better!
sincerely,
anon 1, aka-single mother, teacher, and concerned citizen, (yea, it's me that posted about the 5th grade position,grant writing "non-position", and the wheel tax) I really do care, and my motivation is to help make this a better place to live, not just rattle the skeletons in the closet. Vent if you must, but be a grown up about it.
To Anonymous Dec 28, 8:01
I said I agreed with Campbell on this pay increase issue, that is no way suggesting I think he is a good commissioner.
To Single Mom
Roger Reedy was elected by his district, but serves for ALL citizens of Giles Co.
I'm interested to know why you seem to be negative toward Flacy. Example of actions please. Norman I can understand.
Response from single mom: Mrs. Flacy has voted against every single item that would benefit the teachers. I have talked to her personally and pointed out some things. She agreed that I had very good points but did not trust Mr. Jackson and felt that the commission should send him a msg by voting no. I asked her if she realized that that msg would be carried on the backs of the teachers and she said that's the way it had to be. When I pointed out that if the commission voted in the affirmative, at least they would have tried and that the problem would then be Mr. Jackson's. She said that would be an excellent idea, but when it came time to vote, she burned the teachers, as always. I realize that the commission can only approve the budget, and cannot designate how the money is spent once allotted, but again, she as well as other commissioners could at least give the illusion of supporting us, then we wouldn't be chasing our tails with the commision saying it's the school board, and the school board saying it's the commission...we would know without a doubt. Again, let me emphasize, I CALLED Mrs. Flacy, this is NOT hearsay. I hope this answers your question. Thank you for asking in a non-confrontational manner; it's how this blog should be utilized, don't you think? Instead of some posters spouting off about my statements. This is very refreshing, renews my hope that this blog may indeed become what the owner intended.
The commission has done everything it can to support teachers and others in the school system. They have given money for raises and watched it vanish into other things, they have given money for buses and watched it go elsewhere, they have given money fro roof repairs and watched it go elsewhere. The only thing left for the commissioners is to simply cut off Jackson as much as possible, if it hurts in the short run it will benefit everyone in the long run. Teachers got a considerable raise when compared to others in the system. I understand it may not be much but it's something.
Single mom - you are wrong about Mrs. Flacy! Teachers got more than the CPI index. Others didn't because it wen to more big $$$ spend on administration! The school board is in bed with tj & needs feet up their tail. They can fire him & what hae has done to all of you who do the work!
from single mom:
We will have to agree to disagree regarding Mrs. Flacy...I agree that the majority of the school board mishandles money and many of the commissioners are supportive of the teachers, but Mrs. Flacy has never supported the teachers in any way. You are also wrong about the raises that teachers received. No raise from the county in at least two years. The state gave a raise, but not the employer of the teachers. That is the school board's excuse. They let someone else do what they should do, and they did nothing. The state raised the teacher salary and not others in the system and people think that teachers should be grateful that we got "more" than others. Most but not all other jobs in the school system do not require at minimum a bachelor's degree that is not free. Shouldn't educators be compensated for that? Private industry compensates it's highly educated employees. Teacher's are constantly being compared negatively to industry, could it be because of the lack of respect teachers get, the lack of regard for their professionalism? Don't know of any private sector employers that would say to it's employees, "Well your income increased because another entity respected you, so we don't have to give you anything."
single mom - can't disagree on anything you say, if true you only received 2%. Sorry to say, average private business is no better (few are better).
you need to toughen up a bit to deal with snakes. Dig into their financial data - primarily budgets - what they say vs where the $ go. lots of serious stuff.
Irony - nea & TEA drive for more tax money & blind spending - ideal set up for political & bureaucratic hands to take. If you save money & improve operations, chances are good you are eliminating the bureaucrats who are skimming from you.
Re-read the BEP booklet relative to the other admin positions sharing the money pot with teachers, rate of average pay, amount of total money spent in excess of the bep base, & who gets it. it ain't teachers or the grunt people!
nea / tea should fight for you, not people who take from you
I believe that teachers are compensated for their degree. If a teacher makes over $30,000 and an aide in the classroom makes a little over $13,000 that is compensation. Just because you have a degree does not mean that you are more deserving of a raise than the "little people". Industry compensates educated people and so does the school system. I know that the majority of the teachers do a great job but that does not make them more deserving than other people in the system. You are educated but that does not make you better. You sound like other positions make the same as you and don't deserve what they make while you have a degree and that makes you better. I think that 2 or 3 times more than other jobs is compensation don't you. I think when you say the teachers did not get a raise for two years that you must have forgotten the "$1,000" raise (give or take a couple hundred dollars) that you got last year. I think that all employees deserved a raise. You really need to remember that some jobs in the school system are paid below the poverty level.
$30,000 dollars ain't bad for 180 days even if you add ten more days for inservice that is still over $150 dollars a day, ain't bad for Pulaski where avg income is less than that for a full year.
Lotsa folks with degrees work for much less than that especially when first starting out.
One question I have is how many people became teachers without having a clue as to how much the job would pay.
The Budget Committee will meet on 9 January, Thursday, at 9am in the county courthouse annex (Suntrust Bank Bldg.
One of the main topics for consideration will be whether to approve an increase in commissioner pay? This should be an interesting topic in light of Intermet closing and 105 people soon being out of work.
There will also be some discussion of a Water project for Minor Hill, and moving money around to satisfy wants of the County Executive. I urge everyone to please come voice your thoughts and observe your Commissioners at work. Allen Barrett
WAB, do you think the commissioner pay is adequate?
I believe the pay is adequate and that each commissioner new what the pay was before taking the job. It is now unreasonable to start wanting more pay especially with the county in such financial difficulty because of the out of control spending by these very commissioners. Certainly some have worked very hard at trying to keep the spending under control.
If a raise is voted it should not go into effect until after the next commission is in place. Allen Barrett
I figured that that would be your response.
Gee, when I took my job I knew what it paid but that doesn't mean that I did not expect a raise at some time. DUH!!
Must people expect a raise as a result of acheivement not for just showing up.
Most educated people in professional level jobs know what a job pays when they accept a position, but also assume that with increased seniority, education, experience, and cost of living, that they will not remain at the starting salary indefinitly; It's ridiculous to think that one should not receive a raise just because "they knew what the job paid when they took it." Anyone with a favorable job eval deserves a "COLA" based on gov't standards. It's borderline criminal and most certainly unethical to not even consider it for any employee but especially public ones, such as teachers, city, county and other public employees. What kind of example and msg does that send to our kids to strive for excellence?
What person, among those you mentioned, was given a raise because of excellence. Many don't even get evaluations and many more only go through the motions. A tenured teacher will get regular raises unless they commit a felony and are in jail.
Commissioners receive a stipend not a salary, therefore "raises" don't even enter into it.
Just out of couriousity, how long has it been since the commissioners recieved a raise on their stipend?
6:25, teachers do receive regular raises, you are correct. They do not receive cost of living raises, however as do MOST public employees in every area of the country except Giles CO. Why did you single out teachers? I do know that NEA is fighting against rewarding teachers for excellence but I also know that most surrounding counties reward teachers with salary increases that keep up with inflation or "bonuses" when their teachers have met certain national standards. Bottom line is GCBOE expects teachers to achieve that standard of excellence without any positive reward system. But ironically, the teachers brought it on themselves...they won't stand up for themselves and just keep taking what the board dishes out. Legally they can't strike, but there are other options. By the way, as a private citizen, I don't use student achievement as a measure of teacher excellence...children are not "widgets" and contrary to popular belief, teachers are not responsible for home life, diet, values of the family, shelter, medical care, gene pool, and every other factor in a child's life that affects the acquistion of knowledge.
Teachers do not receive cost of living raises but have gotten a raise every year either from the state or the state and county both. They also receive step raises up until the 20 years of experience. Other people in the sytem receive the same step raises but not yearly raises from the county. They get nothing from the state. I agree that teachers should not be blamed for home life. Parents need to take responsibility for their children. Chlidren should learn basic skills at home like, manners, grooming and obedience and respect for adults. Unfortunatly parents don't teach these and blame other for their childrens short comings. How many families still eat at the dinner table as a family every night, not many.
Check the GCBOE pay scale if you can get a copy of it. (most systems posts their's online, not Giles Conty). Teachers do NOT get a step raise every year...hidden in the pay scale, every few years, you will see that several steps have the exact same pay. It's not every year, but with inflation, the salary is actually going backward in many cases. The average raise is about $500. per year which allows the teacher to bring home about 10.00 per month more. That doesn't even keep up with the cost of school lunches....But hey, it's a calling right??? Teachers don't need to worry about mortgages, groceries, gas, college for themselves or their children, they ONLY work 180 days, 8-3, right? I am angry that anyone would even remotely entertain the thought that teachers or any public servant is any where close to being adequately compensated. Don't really understand how the ones in power can look themselves in the mirror...glad my children are out of the public school.
1:24, I hope you don't teach math. If the average raise is $500 a year then you only bring home $10 a month more, you must have a heck of a lot of taxes coming out of your check. Nobody said teachers were overpaid. I don't think so and appreciate the teachers who taught me and my children. I would not want to be in the classroom.
I stand corrected; 500.00 divided by 12 minus 30% for taxes is about 28.00 bring home, if the teacher has nothing extra taken out for retirement, dental, vision, etc. Guess he or she could feed their children lunch after all; or maybe by a half a tank of gas....
Sorry, I just get so angry at the ignorance of people who think what was good enough 25,50, yrs ago, oughta be good enough now. Like I said, glad my kids are out of it, but I also know, as I am an "outsider", (only been here 15 yrs) that there is a big old world out there that has to play by the rules.... If I had it to do over again, not sure my kids would have ever been in the Giles Co system. Most of the teachers individually are priceless but it's hard to fight the "good ole boys."
Its the "good old boys" who are trying to get the Financial Management Act voted out. One way to fight them legally is to vote "FOR" Financial Management. We can do it people but we must vote to get our voices heard.
Give these fine people a raise. They work hard for the people of Giles County. Let's show them a little support and appreciation.
I am happy to see the commissioners getting paid to attend all meetings now. The next step is to give them a raise. Actually, I think they should be paid a flat monthly salary.
I wouldn't have the job of Commissioner, regardless of the pay. I would not be able to tolerate the name-calling and accusations. They deserve whatever pay they are given and more.
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