The Albemarle Mental Health Center overpaid its top employees, according to a state audit.

The auditor'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. Mike Easley.

The average pay for directors of regional mental health agencies was about $115,000 last year, the audit said.

The local mental health board that set Franklin's salary refused to talk with a reporter, instead sending a statement through a Raleigh public relations firm, French/West/Vaughan. 

In addition, the audit said board members wasted money on unnecessary conferences, including $12,476 at the Biltmore Estate in 2005. (N&O)

Bonus for Dome readers: Guess who Albemarle's lobbyist was...