Zebulon leaders are proposing pay raises for top elected officials as the town cuts costs elsewhere to close a $2.4 million budget deficit. Under a current proposal, the mayor’s compensation would increase by roughly $5,000 in the next fiscal year to $20,000. Town commissioners would see their compensation nearly doubled from roughly $8,000 now to $16,000 each year.

Proposed Pay Raises

Initial proposals suggested paying Mayor Jessica Harrison $30,000, Mayor Pro Tem Quentin Miles $27,000 and Zebulon commissioners $25,000 annually, according to town staff. The proposed compensation adjustments were discussed during the budget process and included consideration of factors such as the time commitment associated with serving in elected office, changes in the cost of living over time, and a review of compensation levels.

The proposed pay raises come as Zebulon leaders are reducing operations elsewhere to close the $2.4 million budget gap. Town staff say the deficit is a result of rising personnel costs, healthcare expenses, infrastructure obligations, and continued growth-related service demands.

Budget Gap

To close the gap, millions of dollars tied to inactive or delayed capital projects are being returned to the town’s unassigned fund balance, among other measures, according to a budget proposal. Zebulon does not have a financial forecasting model to project revenues, expenses, or growth-related service demands, according to the town’s proposed budget.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.