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| Updated: 10/29/2012 10:54 pm |
Published: 10/29/2012 7:46 pm |
How would you like to give yourself a bonus? Pulaski County Quorum Court members are legally allowed to do that, but some JPs do not think they should take additional taxpayer money. Others say they have worked for it.
An audio recording of comments made at a budget committee meeting earlier this month that are not in the meeting minutes, now has some JPs fired up.
The issue is whether they should take year-end bonuses if they vote to give all county employees bonuses.
At the budget committee meeting heard on the audio recordings, several Pulaski County Quorum Court members talked about potentially voting to give all county employees bonuses this year, instead of raises, including themselves.
"I serve my district real well and I deserve whatever I can get. A dime or a nickel. Amen," says Quorum Court member Rev. Robert Green.
"The staff is being paid of the taxpayers dollars. And, I think if every JP in this district worked as hard as I do, whatever bonuses we get, we deserve them. Because I live in an unincorporated area also, and they call me day and night," says JP Judy Green.
It's completely legal. They did it last year.
"If we give the staff a bonus, I think we should get a bonus because we work just as hard, if not harder, some of us," says Judy Green.
Despite what JP Judy Green says on the recording, she and Teresa Coney told FOX16 that they do not feel entitled to bonuses, but they've worked hard for them.
"It really seemed to me to send a signal that we're just up here to get whatever we can get," says JP Shane Stacks.
Stacks, who is running for reelection, says he will decline the bonus if given one just like last year.
"Elected officials voting to give ourselves money just really leaves a bad taste in my mouth," says Stacks.
Coney, who is running unopposed, says she would also like the total travel budget for JPs increased from $8,000 to $12,000 a year after sharing a room with Judy Green earlier this year during a conference in Pennsylvania.
JPs make about $11,000 a year. Many have other jobs.
The budget committee meets again Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
The full Quorum Court is expected to vote on the full budget at its November 27th meeting. It has not yet determined whether to give bonuses to all county employees.
