Comments on: COMMENTARY Do You Know Where Your Tax Dollars Are?

By: Mary Miller

Mary Miller — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 19:34:14 +0000

Good to see so many interesting comments about this reprinted article. To respond to the most recent comment — information about the role of the State Compensation Board regarding salaries for Constitutional Officers is included in the article, and those elected officials are listed separately in the graphic. Other county positions and salaries are created at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Those positions are not required by the State — the salaries and duties are set by the local Supervisors and funded by county taxpayers.

By: Clarry Ellis

Clarry Ellis — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 23:20:44 +0000

The salaries of the Constitutional Officers are set by the State Compensation Board on a scale based upon the total population served so any discussion needs to keep that in mind.

By: Patricia Lilliston

Patricia Lilliston — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 17:17:44 +0000

I think the whole point of Mr Roberts’ comment was NOT about the Sheriff’s competitive salary at all. I think he was asking why the Sheriff is paid so much less than the county administration people who don’t seem to take responsibility for much of anything.

By: Steve Downs

Steve Downs — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:36:40 +0000

Our Sheriff’s Department deserves every penny it receives, and the Sherriff’s salary is earned by virtue of the time he has spent with the department and the responsibilities he has in that position.

By: Bobby Roberts

Bobby Roberts — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:32:25 +0000

Why is the Sheriff’s salary so far down on that list of those county employees? He’s out keeping the county safe whenever, wherever he’s needed. The rest of that big salary county crowd sit in their air conditioned fancy new offices and soak up our tax dollars.

By: Pamela Wilkins

Pamela Wilkins — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 16:59:00 +0000

I have lived in Northampton for over 50 years. I am embarrassed over the posting of “Northampton’s Highest Salaries”! Why the need for so many positions? There is no economic growth in our County. Why do we need an Economic Development Director with an annual salary and benefits of over $135,000? Every business that was vital to our County is gone or is leaving! Namely, the Hospital. What do we have here that attracts anyone? Our schools are in disrepair and we have no money to fix them or build new ones. All of our tax money is going to pay off the debt connected to the new Courthouse, the Regional Jail, all the perks and plusses for the remodeled County Administration building, and the high salaries for all the personnel necessary to run a county with a little over 12,000 residents.

It is amazing to me how a county that is so poor and so lacking in growth pays salaries far higher than those paid in counties and cities elsewhere in the state with significantly more population than Northampton County. Perhaps the answer is to clean house and eliminate the unnecessary jobs, not continue to create more.

Apparently in Northampton County a fancy title earns you a fancy salary too! Wake up Northampton County! Obviously, the need for prioritizing is NOW!

By: Tony Sacco

Tony Sacco — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:48:03 +0000

Elected County Supervisors led by Mr. Tankard made this skyrocketing budget happen in the first place — no jobs, no growth, and a selected group not paying real estate taxes. We lost the hospital, we lost businesses, and we lose our brightest students after they graduate from high school and take their talents elsewhere due to no jobs for them. The school board gave the county underpaid teachers, low test scores, and loss of the middle school. [CBES and Shoreline] are too conservative, with a “shut the door and let nobody in” policy. They controlled the making of the county’s Comprehensive Plan of “no growth.” It’s time they go into the trenches of Northampton County and see that all is not pristine.

By: Pamela Parris

Pamela Parris — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:05:11 +0000

I live in Virginia Beach and as a native of Northampton County the salaries these employees receive is OUTRAGEOUS! We have over 440,000 residents here, based on an early 2014 census, and Northampton County has 12,408 residents. Might I also add that Northampton’s population dropped 5.23% since 2000.

I have compared employee salaries between Virginia Beach and Northampton County and there is not much difference in pay! However, the employees in Virginia Beach EARN their salaries due to all of the people they serve, but it seems that the employees of Northampton County are simply ENTITLED/GIVEN their pay. Also, the population has declined; did the county’s salaries reflect the drop? I doubt it! Lastly, the cost of living in Northampton County is 1.70% lower than the US Average.

All citizens need to wake up and find their voice. Their money is simply going into someone else’s pocket! This isn’t limited to just the Federal levels of government! I encourage all who read this article and my comment to view the Virginia Beach current annual budget and previous annual budgets since 2006 at: http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/budget-office-management-services/budget-archives/pages/default.aspx