The Jeff Emory Raise/Bonus Part II

I’ve never seen such a response to an editorial as the one published Wednesday on Jeff Emory’s raise and bonus.

Fact of the matter is, the raise and bonus could have waited – contract or not – until the economy improved. Mayor David Black knew it. The City Council knew it. And the man at the center of the controversy – Jeff Emory himself – knew it.

And yet the only two people on the City Council that thought the timing was bad and/or it was excessive -- councilmen Fred Houser and Carroll Heavner.

I understand through sources that Emory was “tore up” about what was written on Wednesday. Fact is, The Carolina Scoop presented the facts in a clear, concise manner that allowed the reader to draw conclusions.

As a resident of the City of Lincolnton, I am taken aback by Council’s action, as well as the idea my water/sewer fees may be raised because of “low water/sewer revenue.”

I call bull. The City of Lincolnton was called in excellent financial shape moments before Emory was given his raise. Was that a coincidence? I don’t think so. Now, the taxpayers in the city are going to have to pay for Emory’s raise and bonus. I don’t like it one bit….

But I digress….

Several people shared with me their thoughts about the editorial. Here is a letter I received in person from a Lincolnton resident. It’s one of many examples of the conclusions many people drew after Wednesday’s editorial.

“Thank you for your editorial on the city manager raise and bonus. It shows just how selfish is really is.

You kept asking about the city employees, and the Mayor said the city has taken a survey about raises or insurance and that the employees chose the insurance. Well, given a choice, most people would choose insurance.

As you pointed out, Mr. Emory also receives the insurance. So while the employees – the people who do the work – had to choose, Mr. Emory did not.

Your editorial said the employees get a raise when promoted and an annual cost of living. If I am not mistaken, Mr. Emory also gets this cost of living raise.
So to re-cap, the city manager and city employees get a cost of living and insurance, but the city manager also receives additional raises and bonuses, as well as other “perks,” all at taxpayer expense.

Sure sounds like Wall Street and bank executives to me.”

The reader makes several valid points. First, Mr. Emory didn’t have to choose between insurance and a raise. With four children – the oldest 15 or 16 – part of Emory’s employment package included the insurance as well as the possibility of raises every year.

Next, Mr. Emory gets the same cost of living raise as any other city employee. Mr. Emory, in fact, is a city employee himself.

As far as “perks” go, I do know that Mr. Emory gets a car allowance. While other city employees probably get a similar “car allowance,” these other city employees didn’t get a major raise and a bonus this year.

Are we getting the “bang for our buck?”

My answer is simply “no.”

Were the city employees taken care of this past year? See the above “simple” answer.

And yet, they do a great job of taking care of us, the residents of Lincolnton.