With compensation for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners among the highest in the state, the county announced a proposal to cut travel compensation and the commissioners’ technology allowance, resulting in savings of $12,400 a year per commissioner. The board will vote on the measure Feb. 15.
“After gathering data from other cities and counties across the state, the County Manager has prepared a proposal that would reduce the County Commissioners’ travel allowance by 50 percent (from $650 to $325 bi-weekly) and their technology allowance by 85 percent (from $175 to $25 bi-weekly),” the announcement reads. “These cuts, once approved by the Board, will result in a $12,400 reduction per year for each board member.”
The commissioners get, on average, over $41,000 a year, with travel allowances of $650 and a technology allowance of $175 every two weeks making up a significant chunk of the total. The commissioners’ salaries have become a contentious issue after reporting in the Asheville Citizen-Times earlier this week highlighted their level of compensation.
“These cuts come as Buncombe departments prepare a 2012 budget with 10 percent reductions to address the current economic challenges,” the announcement concludes, noting that the commissioners will vote on the changes at their Feb. 15 meeting.
— David Forbes, senior news reporter
With all the whining they have been doing regarding the budget?
This should never have happened. Their pay needs to be in line with comparably populated cities. They should pay back any undocumented travel monies….and serious scrutiny made of other paid staffs salaries and benefits, also.