By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners have decided the $125 per month being deducted from each commissioner’s check would not necessarily have to go to a county department.

In June, the board agreed to cut their pay by $1,500 per board member per year.

Last week, the board clarified that individual commissioners will be allowed to put the money deducted from his check back into the county general fund, give it to a charity, supplement a fire department, or add it to a specific county department’s budget.

Chairman Sammie Jacobs pointed out that if he wanted to give the money to the Red Cross or to a fire department he thought it should be allowed.

Commissioner Ronald Gore said he had made the original motion in June to cut salaries by 10 percent and the intent was to reduce spending.

Prevatte agreed, but said the salary cut was his idea.

“You’re not doing the citizens any good,” Commissioner Ricky Bullard said.

The original motion offered in June would have amounted to $10,500 in savings for county taxpayers.

At that time the majority of the board out-voted their counterparts, however, to provide that each commissioner be permitted to give the extra funds to a designated department.

Last week’s unanimous vote broadens the intention of the motion to include fire departments and other organizations.

The board also clarified that the deduction should appear as an actual pay cut and that the board should not be taxed on the amount deducted.

Though commissioners were being taxed on the full salary, the $125 was being deducted after taxes from their monthly paychecks beginning July 1.

That money was not directed to any department.

“Somewhere along the way we got confused,” Commissioner Bill Memory said.

Memory made the substitute motion in June to allow individual commissioners to designate which department the extra funds would go to.

“Contrary to what the newspaper said today it was deducted,” Commissioner James Prevatte said. He said it was his understanding commissioners would have the option of designating where the money went.

The other board members disagreed and said the reduction should come out before taxes.

Interim Finance Director Leo Hunt said the reduction was perceived as a donation and that is why it was taken out after taxes.

“I’m not a tax expert but I don’t think you can take it as a tax deduction,” Hunt explained.

“It’s still wrong, according to the minutes,” Prevatte said, adding that commissioners should be able to put it where they want.

“I don’t care as long as I get $1,500 out of my check,” Memory said.

Prevatte then made a motion that each salary be reduced by $1,500 a year with a deduction of $125 per month per commissioner and that commissioners have the ability “to designate where that money is spent.”

The board unanimously approved the measure.