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Columbus County commissioners shouldn’t be among the top-paid commissioners in the state.
In addition to salary, three commissioners get health insurance. Travel is an additional $12,000 budget expense. It all adds up to a $300,000-plus line-item to support the commissioners.
With budget planning under way, now is a good time for commissioners to make a statement and reduce board members’ salaries.
Commissioners are chosen to be public servants, not salaried employees.
A second problem arises when salaries and benefits for public service become a major source of income for an individual. When that happens, job security often becomes more important than making tough policy choices.
Commissioners can show taxpayers that they’re serious about saving money in the new budget by adjusting their salaries to a level that’s commensurate with other low-wealth counties. There is no way to justify what commissioners make now.