Mike Fryar has won tremendous support in response to comments made at the last Buncombe County Commissioners’ meeting. As a result, the local daily published the following:
- Buncombe County:
chair salary: $26,019
vice chair salary: $21,762
commissioner salary: $17,505
perks: $325 weekly for car and $87.50 weekly for technology - Henderson County:
chair salary: $16,801
commissioner salary: $10,431
perks: $75 per special meeting and $520 weekly for travel - Haywood County:
chair salary: $13,949
commissioner salary: $12,205
perks: $200 monthly for travel - Jackson County:
chair salary: $16,189.76
commissioner salary: $11,519.20
perks: reimbursement requests only - Madison County:
chair salary: $10,068
commissioner salary: $6887
perks: $6840 a year for chair travel; half that for commissioners.
The article concludes commissioner pay in Buncombe County is higher than anywhere else in the state. The commissioners indicated they were not that concerned to pay any attention to their pay. Carol Weir Peterson gave the best reason:
Buncombe County has great diversity and that could be one reason why commissioners make more than in other counties, Peterson said. She cited examples such as protecting the mountain environment, understanding agriculture and the tourism industry.
