Rockwall County commissioners vote themselves big fat pay raises

by PegNews wire

ROCKWALL — Rockwall County commissioners voted last week to give themselves big raises: 19.5 percent raise for four commissioners, and 17.3 percent raise for county judge Chris Florance.

Florance, who would get $79,920 with car and phone allowance, says the raises are needed because they've been underpaid and are now working full-time. They all say they've ditched old jobs, and Rockwall is growing.

The DMN has a hilarious quote from a resident, Jerry Hogan, who lists all the ways that the commissioners' performance has been less than raise-worthy:

He said the county's image has been tarnished by former County Treasurer Shereé Jones' conviction last year for misusing public money; the fact that District Attorney Ray Sumrow has remained in office while under indictment on charges of misusing public money; the commissioners' hiring of a tax assessor-collector whose qualifications many questioned; their poor responses to critical letters to the editor in various periodicals and messages on a portable yellow sign beside Goliad Street (State Highway 205); and their push for the raises as their first action of "significance" since Judge Florance and Mrs. Grinnan took office.

Mr. Hogan suggested the commissioners publish a vision statement, set specific goals, stop responding to letters to the editor, communicate better with residents, persuade the district attorney to go on leaveb and ignore the critical yellow sign.

Posted by T.G.