The County Commission decided on Wednesday not to go back to providing the chairman and vice chairman 40 percent and 30 percent above the pay of the other commissioners.
However, the resolution calls for paying county leaders over the past six years some $33,000 in back pay.
That includes:
- Former Commissioner Fred Skillern, $8,879
- Jim Coppinger, who is now county mayor, $1,073
- Larry Henry, who is now Circuit Court clerk, $5,250
- Former Vice Chairman Jim Fields, $6,969
- Current Chairman Chester Bankston, $5,318
- Current Vice Chairman Randy Fairbanks, $3,280
It was discovered recently that the percentages were in play in 1990 when the pay of the commissioners was around $6,000.
The salaries have risen to around $22,000.
In 1999, the commission started paying the chairman $5,000 extra and the vice chairman $2,500.
However, the earlier percentages method stayed on the books.
It was decided to stay with the $5,000 and $2,500.
Only Commissioners Greg Beck and Warren Mackey were opposed.
Commissioner Tim Boyd said the duties of the commissioners had gone up exponentially. But he said, "I've got to agree with the 1999 plan over the 1990 plan."
Vice Chairman Randy Fairbanks questioned the commission changing a prior policy, but County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said the commission could do so at any time.