Libba Evans, head of the state cultural agency, has been on unpaid leave since May 1 — which means she wasn't on the clock when she participated in a trip to Russia and Estonia.
Evans was a member of a five-person cultural exchange trip in May to Russia and Estonia that cost taxpayers more than $56,000. The delegation also included first lady Mary Easley.
Evans, the secretary of the state Department of Cultural Resources, initiated the leave to take care of "personal business," said Staci Meyer, general counsel and chief deputy for the department.
"She initiated it and we discussed it and decided that was the appropriate thing to do as she dealt with some personal business," Meyer said.
Evans had already committed to participating in the trip and she was not paid as a state employee during the trip, Meyer said.
Meyer said she could not comment on the nature of Evans' personal business.
Evans salary when she went on leave is $117,142. The figure would increase upon her return because the legislature approved a pay raise.
Meyer has been running the department. She now makes $119,000.
Comments
Re: Evans was on leave during Russia trip
August 18, 2008 - 12:57pm — workerbee4Why is all of this money being wasted by the state, yet I've been begging and begging for the money that has been owed to me since June 30 and all I can get is told to quit asking for my money. Did Jack go on the beach retreat this weekend?? I wonder if he spent his own money on that...If she was on leave, she needs to pay the state back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Evans was on leave during Russia trip
August 18, 2008 - 12:38pm — ToddSmPs many state employees are working ( not on leave) and STILL NOT getting paid and our only trip is to the bank to borrow money because our paychecks are not correct
Re: Evans was on leave during Russia trip
August 18, 2008 - 12:35pm — ToddSmwow what a nice gig. Some of us can't even get a sick day without the threat of disciplinary action. The state will not even accept many staff's notes from M.D.. I have averaged using 2.47 days of sick time per year x 12 years and still worry about getting fired for that. Even though I work at hospital, where you would think they would want you to stay home if sick, they threaten you with write ups if you take sick leave. This lady gets a cool trip while on leave many of us could get neither.
Re: Evans was on leave during Russia trip
August 18, 2008 - 12:33pm — FloydTurboMore Easley Administration corruption ..... like eating potato chips .... you can never stop with just one. Did Mary book any interesting speakers for NCSU while she was in Estonia? She is "uniquely qualified to do so" you know!