Pollard: Pay comparison was to head off salary decrease

Former state Sen. Tommy Pollard said he did not mean to insinuate that his wife, the new Onslow County register of deeds, should be given a $70,000 salary when he distributed pay comparisons to county officials last week.

He was not seeking a raise for Becky Pollard, who took office Monday, but wanted to see that she was paid at least what the outgoing register of deeds earned, Tommy Pollard told The Daily News on Wednesday.

Commissioner Lionell Midgett said both Pollards called him several weeks ago and expressed feelings that Becky Pollard should be paid what Washington was being paid.

Midgett said he felt no pressure to give Becky Pollard a raise when Tommy Pollard gave him the salary comparisons last week.

The paperwork handed out by Tommy Pollard lists the salaries of several registers of deeds across the state with a population of 168,000. The average pay is around $70,000. Former register Mary Kaye Washington's salary was $56,000.

Commissioner Paul Buchanan said it was semantics whether Tommy Pollard was asking for $70,000 or $50,000.

"Becky Pollard's pay should be a discussion between her and the commissioners and no one else," Buchanan said. "The taxpayers also have input, but not her husband."

Becky Pollard said county staff told her that due to her lack of experience, she would probably start out at the low end of the pay scale for that position, which is $41,000.

A current employee at the register of deeds makes $42,000, according to pay scale information provided to The Daily News by the county manager's office after a public records request.

Becky Pollard said she should earn more than her staff and as an elected official should be paid what the outgoing register was making.

"Becky should be brought in at the same pay as Washington," Tommy Pollard said.

Becky Pollard's salary is expected to be set at the Dec. 15 Board of Commissioners meeting.

To see the paperwork handed out by Tommy Pollard, click on the link to the right of this report under "related multimedia."

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.