newsobserver.com projects - raises - Comments

Re: Cigarettes, booze for teachers, mental health

gordman — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:44:23 -0400

Although I am not a great fan of booze and cigarettes I think is quite unfair to raise taxes for paying teachers. A much more profitable thing would be drug legalization starting with marijuana. As far as I can see this would solve more problems at once.
Gordman, Alcohol Intervention

Re: Provost: Easley has 'unmatched experience'

j1c2kp — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:09:58 -0400

Doesn't the salary increase also increase her retirement benefits? Plum deal.

Re: Provost: Easley has 'unmatched experience'

Preparedtodare — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:22:14 -0400

I am interested to know more about the Leadership program for first responders. As a former emergency service instructor for the state, I think that this program sounds like the Leadership Initiatitive that was being presentented to supervisory staff at Crime Control. This was an expensive training program that was promoted a couple of years ago, but unfortunately the senior management participation was difficult to "maintain." Leadership training should never be taken lightly. As stewards of the public trust, the State's management from the top down is based on a managerial heirarchy that is supposed to be supported by "leadership" roles fostered through experience and training. Sadly for many supervisors, there is a perception that a management position has an inherent leadership facet that is bestowed on workers who have attended certain types of training like is described in the article. True leaders are precious and can manifest themselves at any level of the "pecking order" of state (or any government). What I have observed in many years of service to the state, cut short for silly reasonsl, is that there is a fuzzy misconception that "management" and "leadership" are on the same plane in the workplace. Real leaders establish a group "willpower" to succeed and managers carry that out. Too many managers in government think that they are leaders by virute of their management title. Unfortunately they are often not equipped with the skills and experience to be true leaders, and good working people "flub" their best efforts due to misguided assumptions and expectations of the "leadership heirarchy" and they fail...and get blamed for a "superior's" ineptitudes. I have seen good people fall and be fired from a public service they love, by a management/leadership system that should support them. Hence the Crane "example", and others. Good people have been hurt by bad management in the guise of leadership ideals. This is the more to pity with all that we have seen unraveling in Raleigh. I only pray that we will have true leaders arise that can help government to manage their people and fullfill the expectations of the utlimate customer...the citizen. That's a rant, but it felt good to let it out in this forum. I have faith that the best in people can still be salvaged with tolerance and understanding as individuals and groups "work" together to achieve a common goal. When leadership falls short, then we are all losers in the game. And as far as the price tag.....? By the way..."unmatched experience" is something I would not like to be labeled with...wonderful use of words.

Re: Provost: Easley has 'unmatched experience'

ethanperry — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:02:04 -0400

Larry Nielsen is the mouthpiece, but his words smell of propaganda devised by others to explain this gift to a retiring Governor. It is similar to the propaganda devised to justify Mrs. Easley's overseas travels, at the expense of taxpayers.

I don't know what a Executive in Residence or Senior Lecturer does, or who figures it is worth $170,000. Would like to see how that job description was put together. Think I'll try to get on State's web pages to look for it.

This sounds like similar propaganda used in a local situation. The school system had Athletic Directors at each school. One retired and was replaced.
All of a sudden, the Administration decided it needed a new position of Athletic Director over all the Athletic Directors.

There are questions as to what the new position does, but one thing is for sure. It provides a supplement to the retired pay of a nice guy who once directed sports activities at one of the systems schools. I doubt you
could put that in a job description though.

NC State's Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor did his duty in trying to explain the ways of the academic world to the taxpayers who support our states universities, and those who pay the tuition to attend. By the way, isn't that interesting - the taxpayer gets to pick up tabs in both cases.

Re: Provost: Easley has 'unmatched experience'

mickiep — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:44:34 -0400

Unmatched experience as well as unmatched connections. State run institutions and departments funded by taxpayers are always avenues to high salaries for the well connected. Maybe Governor Easley will get a high paying position funded by the taxpayers when he leaves the executive mansion.

Re: Provost: Easley has 'unmatched experience'

FFC1304 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:30:48 -0400

Nielson needs to be FIRED as well! NOW!

HOW do these people SLEEP at night?

ElectriCities Rate Meeting

ttBR549 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:14:34 -0400

Attend the June 27 10 am meeting in Rocky Mount at the Braswell Library and find out WHY your rates are increasing in electric cities. Ask questions. Be heard. And if you are anti annexation near one of these cities, attend, your rates may be high if you are annexed.

Re: Lottery chair: Pay for performance

ttBR549 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:09:27 -0400

The legislature did create and should do what is fair across the board for all employees. Does not look particularly well run to me. And they seem to have not met their goals yet so why the pay increases?

Kind of like ElectriCities of NC and Jesse Tilton, they do not meet any goals except superspending and give themselves 16% pay increases for a job not so well done. Refinance is a failure and costs ratepayers so I think I will give myself a raise.

The following legislators accepted PAC money from ElectriCities when their constituents are being hit with HUGE RATE increases due to mismanagement of refinancing, legal bills, salary increases and super trips around the country with nice suites and filet mignon. These legislators need to stand up and return the money or they appear to be supporting an overspending CEO who has botched refinancing of rates on $5 BILLION in debt costing us millions each month.

It does appear that Board Members ceased giving to the PAC at the end of 2007 and many staff people (even though they got GIGANTIC raises and salaries) lowered their contributions. Don't see where the big spender CEO Tilton gave in 2008 yet though. He prefers to keep his money I guess and just direct everyone else as to what to do.

$1000
Dan Blue
Hugh Holloman
Martin Nesbitt
Rock Glazier
Tony Rand
David Hoyle
Fred Steen
Joe Hackney
Karen Ray
Mark Basnight
Bill Owens
Phil Berger
$500
Jeff Barnhart
Laura Wiley
David Weinstein
Edgar Starnes
Larry Shaw
Jim Harrell
Katie Dorsett
Bill Purcell

Re: Lottery chair: Pay for performance

dahedgehog — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:07:38 -0400

Then they should get a raise as soon as they provide $425 million for public schools. That was their original projection. They've yet to meet it.

Re: Lottery chair: Pay for performance

liam — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:45:55 -0400

So, by Mr. McArthur's logic, why shouldn't we base pay increases for all state employees based on their performance? If we could devise some metric as easy to judge as the lottery's ticket sales performance than we could hold every state employee accountable.

Hmmm, now how would we judge Les Merritt's pay raise?

Re: Lawmaker wants to cut top lottery pay

ttBR549 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:36:46 -0400

I agree with Rep. Allred and hope he will help those of us in Wilson and other areas. If you think these salaries are ridiculous, look at ElectriCities of NC. Jesse Tilton makes a lot more than the Governor and has mismanaged us all into a rate increase. He makes $500,000. There is no way this guy should make more than Erskine Bowles or Mike Easley. He has given 16-20% raises to people. One of his closest chronies, Clay Norris, makes $240,000 after 60% in increases over the past 5 years. They have 10 lobbyists raking in $500,000 and there is no issue on the table. The other electric companies have far fewer. One is a pay off to an employee who left after a short period of time and the lobbyists have turned over 75% over the past five years, including Alice Garland being run off by Tilton.

How do you think local government employees feel with this mob making this much on the local government retirement system? And in Wilson we will have a whopping 15% rate increase. Why? Tilton did a bad refinance deal that cost us 3%, he has increased operational costs with his taste for the high life by 2% and the rest is legitimate fuel costs. Absurd. Poor people in eastern NC are now going to pay for this guy.

If you live out here come to the rate committee meeting June 27 in Rocky Mount at 10 am at the Braswell Library and be heard.

Re: Lawmaker wants to cut top lottery pay

bellaparola — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:20:26 -0400

I'm not a big fan of Allred's and am amazed that we agree on this issue. I have no particular emotion about the lottery per se, even buy a ticket every now and then for a giggle. I'm just glad we're claiming the money our stupid neighbors were apparently driving to other states to waste lo those many years, but I find it absolutely outrageous that the people in charge of it are paid like mob lawyers. Any journeyman business manager, like from McDonald's or Golden Corral, could do what needs to be done to keep the thing running - count the money, keep it secure, order equipment, pay the prizes - and the rest of what they do is borderline criminal, I think. (I'm talking about all the marketing etc.)

Anyway, I reiterate the Allred suggestion - don't let the screen door hit you on your way out, please!!

Re: Lawmaker wants to cut top lottery pay

j1c2kp — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:59:55 -0400

oh another study, how wonderful. I have to agree with Allred on this one.

Re: Easley 'puzzled' by House budget

tangoz — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:47:38 -0400

They do lose some of the best teachers to non-government corporations who can pay better and give better benefits. That argument is proven. There are also social loafing employees anywhere you go. I would like to think that teachers police themselves through peer pressure and peer reviews. Remember before you condemn them ask yourself, "Is that a job I would do and could do well" And no I am not a teacher.

Terrell III for State House
Republican nominee for the 33rd district-North Carolina State House
4549 Tollington Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
919-523-0304 Cell
http://terrellforhouse33.blogspot.com/

Paul Terrell III is a conservative blue collar worker who will do things in Raleigh for House district 33's citizens.

Re: Easley 'puzzled' by House budget

dahedgehog — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:46:45 -0400

Ewol, tell it to NCAE