Putnam County Commissioners approved a new pay structure Monday night that will adjust how much future commissioners will be paid.
Commission Chairman Chris Cassetty said under the new structure, commissioners will receive one-twenty-fourth of the county mayor’s salary, divided into monthly payments and then further divided based on meeting attendance. Cassetty noted that commissioner pay has remained unchanged for two decades.
“What they get paid has not changed in nearly twenty years,” Cassetty said. “Because nobody wants to do that. Nobody wants to look like… even though we cannot give ourselves a raise, nobody wants to look like that is what they are doing. So this resolution effectively takes that out of our hands.”
Currently, commissioners receive $400 per month for attending two meetings. Cassetty said under the new formula, commissioners will receive $473 per month based on the current mayor’s salary.
Commissioner Jonathan Williams also clarified that the vote does not set a specific salary but instead establishes a formula that will automatically adjust every four years when a new commission takes office.
“What we are doing is adopting a formula that will be used going forward in perpetuity,” Williams said. “So, and once again, 472 or whatever the new dollar amount is, that dollar amount may change according to whatever the state gives the mayor, but it won’t take effect until the new commission is seated after this election. So remember, it’s a formula, not a dollar amount.”
The resolution also increases additional stipends for certain roles, raising the chairman’s extra monthly pay and the per-meeting pay for budget committee members from $25 to $50.
The commission approved the resolution with a 16-8 vote. Commissioner Gene Mullins said he viewed it as the commission giving itself or the next commission a raise.
“Mr. Chair, I was present twenty years ago when we voted on that, and I was actually one of the few commissioners who voted against it,” Mullins said. “And I don’t know, you say it takes it out of our hands, it still ends up giving us a raise.”
The new structure begins next commission term.
In other business, the commission approve dthe appointment of Nate Maxwell to the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport Authority for a three-year term set to expire March 2029.
The commission approved the county mayor’s appointments to the Regional Solid Waste Committee. Those appointments are Ron Chaffin, Cathy Reel, and Brian Reed. Their terms will expire in March 2030.
The commission recognized the county road list as presented by Road Supervisor Randy Jones. They also recognized the re-appointment of Larry Rodgers to the Double Springs Utility District Board. His term on the board will expire in March, 2029.
