http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/audit_albemarle_overpaid Comments for "Audit: Albemarle overpaid" en http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/audit_albemarle_overpaid <!-- Begin check for Blog Icon --> <img src="/sites/projects.newsobserver.com/files/morningroundup_100.jpg" class="blog-icon" /> <!-- End check for Blog Icon --> <!-- Begin check for Teaser Toggle --> <div class="field-item"><p>The <a href="http://www.albemarlemhc.org/">Albemarle Mental Health Center</a> overpaid its top employees, according to a state <a href="http://www.ncauditor.net/EPSWeb/EDSreportdetail.asp?RepNum=PER-2007-7231">audit</a>.</p><p>The auditor&#39;s office criticized the mental health office in northeast North Carolina for paying director Charles Franklin Jr. $282,663 last year. His assistant, who does not have a college degree, made about $143,000 — more than Gov. <a href="/dome/profiles/mike_easley">Mike Easley</a>.</p><p>The average pay for directors of regional mental health agencies was about $115,000 last year, the audit said.</p><p>The local mental health board that set Franklin&#39;s salary refused to talk with a reporter, instead sending a statement through a Raleigh public relations firm, <a href="http://www.fwv-us.com/">French/West/Vaughan</a>. </p><p>In addition, the audit said board members wasted money on unnecessary conferences, including $12,476 at the <a href="http://www.biltmore.com/">Biltmore Estate</a> in 2005. (<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/health_science/story/731840.html">N&amp;O</a>)</p><p><strong>Bonus for Dome readers: </strong>Guess who <a href="http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/lobbyists/Principal.aspx?Pid=8063034">Albemarle&#39;s</a> <a href="/profiles/don_beason">lobbyist</a> was... </p></div> <div class="node-blog-teaser-footer"> <div class="node-blog-teaser-comments"><a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/audit_albemarle_overpaid#comment"><img src="http://www.newsobserver.com/images/front_new/icon_discussion.gif" width="11" height="7" border="0" /> Comments (0)</a> <!-- If permissions, display edit link at end of teaser --> <!-- End edit link code --> </div> </div> <!-- End check for Teaser Toggle --> <!-- BEGIN AUDIO ATTACHMENT CODE --> http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/audit_albemarle_overpaid#comment Albemarle Mental Health Center Biltmore Estate Charles Franklin Jr. Don Beason French West Vaughan Mike Easley Under the Dome Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:45:13 -0400 ryanteaguebeckwith 2620 at http://projects.newsobserver.com