JOHNSTON COUNTY – Johnston County employees received a five percent pay increase on July 1st. However, Johnston County Commissioners voted to give themselves a higher percentage pay increase. In a unanimous vote, the board agreed to give themselves pay raises from 41 to 61 percent.
In the last fiscal year, ending June 30, 2023, commissioners made $16,860.84, and the chairman $18,547.08, annually. Starting this month, commissioners will receive $23,834 annually ($1,986.17 monthly), an increase of just over 41 percent. The board voted to also increase their travel allowance from $4,800 to $6,600 annually, a 37.5 percent increase. With the travel allowance, commissioners will receive $2,536.17 each month.
The Chairperson will be paid $29,834 annually ($2,486.17 monthly), a nearly 61 percent increase from the previous amount of $18,547.08. Also, the chairman will be paid $8,400 to cover travel, a 40 percent increase from the previous travel allowance of $6,000. With the travel allowance, the chairman will make $3,186.17 each month.
All seven Johnston County Commissioners are eligible to receive County health benefits, valued at $800 per month. They are also assigned a county-owned iPad for use to conduct business.
“Equitable opportunity”
In an email, Chairman Lawter said, “The Commissioner’s positions were compared to counties that are similar in size and population to Johnston County, as well as neighboring counties. The Board always considers the relevant data when determining salaries during budget discussions. We believe that the current pay scale reflects a fair and accurate assessment for Commissioners’ salaries. The Board also takes into account the future generation of leaders and public servants that will hold office in Johnston County. We believe that it is important to establish a fair pay scale for local, elected officials to provide an equitable opportunity for those interested in public service.”
Neighboring Wayne County pays their Board Chairman and Commissioners $14,291 annually.
Harnett County Commissioners are paid even less, $11,354 per year. The Vice Chairman is paid $12,158 and the Chairman $12,969. Each commissioner also receives $610 each month for travel.
Wake County Commissioners receive $37,856 to $45,427.20 annually, plus a $291.67 semi-monthly general expense allowance and $83.33 semi-monthly technology allowance.
Johnston County Commission Vice Chair Patrick Harris said the increase was made after commissioners requested a salary study be performed about their pay rates. “The data we used to determine Commissioners’ salaries was collected from a salary survey conducted by the North Carolina School of Government and our salaries were adjusted to the average rate. Johnston County Commissioners will always value our role as financial stewards as we continue to serve our community.”
Commissioners also voted to increase the salary of County Manager Rick Hester from $240,609 to $257,451, a seven percent increase. The county attorney, Jennifer Slusser, also received a seven percent increase from $185,299.68 to $200,000. The Clerk to the Board, Dana Cuddington, was given a 9.6 percent salary increase from $77,520.11 to $85,000. (These salaries include the five percent cost of living increase given to all county employees July 1, plus an additional two percent performance pay bonus county employees may receive in October 2023.)
Must be nice to vote to give yourself a raise! I’m sure there are many hardworking people reading this that would vote to give themselves such a hefty raise if they could.
County employees get 5%, commissioners get 41-61%. Vote them all out!
Must be nice to give yourself a 41% – 61% pay raise but yet the people who pay the taxes don’t. It is reasons like this that no one trusts a politician. This vote should have went to the citizens of Johnston County. No board should have the power to give themselves a raise without question. Where are the checks and balance?
Seems fair to me! They don’t get raises every year and at some point they have to increase their salaries and be the ones to suggest and vote on it.
If I were commissioner, I’d make a local law that only way Commissioners or any locally elected official gets a raise is a referendum to the voters ON THE BALLOT. This “toot my own horn” business is snaky as a copperhead.
I kind of agree with you for once, but a simpler solution might be that commissioners (and all elected officials) get the same raise as a non-elected county employee.
Brett, you are so right. It should have gone before the voters and if the vote was no then they have the right to resign. There would be no problem getting a replacement for them. Again, it should be left up to the voters and that should be the law.
You should run then. Good luck. Seems like you folks have all the answers.
While I agree with your sentiments you are attempting to co-opt my identity as a well known devil’s advocate and all around Johnston County miscreant. Please don’t try to fake be me and spell my name like Alyn, ever again.
I wouldn’t mind them making that much – if they earned it!!!
The good ole boy network alive and well. The republican party in johnston county was purchased by developers and bankers. They sound southern but operate like New York progressives. The county was sold out. They are only interested in benefiting themselves and the cronies.
^^^^ This is FACT
Are you saying all the Dems in this county work for free or do not care to be paid for their time?
Liberals crack me up. Some of the dumbest people on the planet.
As a radical woke progressive constitutionalist liberal Republican, I agree BUT How dare you try to be me and spell my name Alyn. What a travesty.
wow!
They are part time employees making less than 25k a year. Find something else to be offended about.
Hahaha everyone in the picture all don’t worry about their banks. Trust me
Really. I know a couple and they arent Fred Smith wealthy. Just normal folks.
Allen? Is that you, comrade?!
🙂
Absolutely not. I am not some hipster douchebag. I would never spell my name like that.
That just so happened to vote them selves a 40% raise. I’m a part-time employee and I don’t get to choose or vote for my raise.
Your fault
All this outrage in the comments… yet history shows you keep re-electing the same people again and again and again. In 2022 every commissioner (except Stephens who won by 50%) ran unopposed. JoCo is an authoritarian — not a democracy. #VoteOutIncumbents #ReapWhatYouVote
This is ridiculous! Employees get just 5 percent not even keeping up with the cost of living!!
Have to pay those legal fees somehow right Dickie?
Why is he still on the board?
@Adam: Because in 50,122 JoCo voters re-elected him in 2022. #Sheep
It’s the joco mindset! They rather praise a bootlegger. A person could heal the sick and feed the poor. They would be mocked out of the county.
LOL…pretty laughable. Politicians wonder why the average citizen has no use for them. And all this time I thought that being elected to a public position such as this was all about public service and serving your fellow man.
It is 20k. What are you complaining about? Wonder what it breaks down to as an hourly rate for all the time they put in. Some of you just like to complain because your own lives are so horrible. Do better, get educated, work harder, get a better job. Only YOU are responsible for your well being.
Alyn, I think your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend does a great job and it is so good for you to stand up for them! If politicians can’t take care of themselves, how do you expect them to take care of the government?
Really not sure what you are referring to here?
Well, any situation could always be worse.
The system needs to change. No one should be in charge of their own pay. They have to be accountable to someone or some organization. I agree a comparison to other counties is noteworthy and ethical, but you should not get the full difference immediately in one fell swoop. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Like Congress?
Look at that picture!! Anyone see a problem ? Would you be taking a picture with dickie ? Most corrupt county in North Carolina They don’t deserve a raise !!!!!! Everyone of them have bank accounts full of money and will never have to worry about nothing !! Now our tax dollars are gonna help dickies legal fees I know he don’t need ours but still I can’t believe this guy has not been put on leave Everyone of them smiling in that picture. Thinking to theirselves like yep we got you joco
They do a salary study on other counties with commissioners who vote themselves raises, so you believe it is all done in fairness and transparency. They authorized the dollars spent on study, the people paying gets the loyalty. This is all smoke and mirrors. Our taxes continue to increase while they all continue to serve themselves. The price of being the little guy!
Now I understand why the lady from the county was out here doing a revaluation on our property last week. Seriously, I would be interested in how many hours these commissioners put into this part time job, plus that mileage figure is just hokum–if they get it regardless, it is salary. Calling it mileage is just a tax dodge.
Wait, so they decided on a raise based on the population of other counties and what county commissioners are making in those counties. Wake County has over a million people and the highest paid commissioner gets $45,000. Joco has 200,000, roughly a fifth of Wake, so if my math is correct a Joco County Commissioner is worth about $9,000. Sounds like they should have voted for a pay decrease or Wake County Commissioners are due a $100,000 pay increase….
Yes this!!!
Excellent analysis. Compare to only one county right next door.
Well we all do need to take into consideration the one night a month they take away from family to have a meeting. And the hours a month talking with fellow commissioners to “work out deals “ 😉😉
And not to mention the hours of meetings behind closed doors to get “paid” I mean deals done to improve “ their lives “ I mean “bank accounts “ I mean the citizens of the county livelihoods. And as we all should know, fighting pedophilia charges can get expensive. And isn’t it sooo ironic that there was such a big show about how jocos tax rate was lowered? When everywhere around us was raised….. get ready for the big one coming up….
Sounds about Republican.
Yeah, because Democrats never give themselves financial advantages do they.
Absolutely scandalous!!!
So they get paid based on population? No wonder they keep approving all of these apartment complexes and houses. Great job if you can get it.
Soon you people won’t be able to walk down the street. Ncswic
Keep on destroying your ability to critically think for yourself.
Y’all act like you aren’t just going to vote them in again.
I find it interesting that staff closest to the board got greater than a 5% increase The rest of us JoCo employees only got five. How convenient.
Feel free to apply and change jobs to make more money. This is a free country. Use that education and experience to get yourself a higher paying job.
You must be connected to one of these crooks on the board or have you been hired to defend these schmucks. I imagine you profit from their pay raise as well
It is ok honey, where did you get hurt. They make 20k a year for a thankless job. Just see the comments here. All the keyboard warriors have the answers. Maybe you and the rest of the whiners can put your names in to run and make all that cash you are complaining about. And wrong to both your assumptions
Love the diversity of the board. Looks just like Johnston County!
I’m just really impressed that the group picture is such a spot on reflection of Johnston County demographics!
(sarcasm)
What is missing?
I don’t know, maybe someone who isn’t white? Maybe let each district elect their own member of the board instead of having the entire county elect who represents each district.
Yes, district voting the way we get a representative government. The REAL Allen agrees.
Any time I hear the phrase “ voted themselves a raise” I cringe……
So how many hours does each commissioner, etc. work each month for this type of salary? Can someone elaborate on that point?