Part-Time County Commissioners?

Mobile County Commission Merceria Ludgood The Alabama Legislature wants to add some seats to the Mobile County Commission.

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Wed, April 08, 2009 - 5:35 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, April 08, 2009 - 9:17 pm CST

The Mobile County Commission could expand from three members to five or maybe even seven.

In an effort to give more representation to rural areas, the Alabama House voted to increase the Mobile County Commission to five members.

For each current commissioner making about $80,000 a year, they represent more than 130-thousand people each.

According to State Representative Spencer Collier, the lines would be drawn like they are for school board members and would mean paying two additional salaries. "I know there are some commissioners that are questioning the cost of this. What I would recommend to them is if they are concerned about the cost that the county incurs, maybe they could give up taxpayer funded vehicles or their taxpayer funded insurance or taxpayer funded retirements."

The Senate will now tackle the expansion issue. Senator Ben Brooks is proposing to make it a seven member, part-time commission instead. His idea would include letting the citizens vote on it. Collier likes the idea of seven members but doesn't believe it will pass this year.

Mobile County Commission President Mike Dean is still unsure about a 5 member commission but disagrees with the part-time idea. "I wonder if it aint broke, there's nothing to fix. I can tell you right there, this is not a part-time job. Look at the school board. I will definitely be opposed to part-time county commissioners."

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sunny Says:

Tue, May 19, 2009 at 2:38 pm

seems to me the County Commissioners work part-time now or not at all.Might find them at the
Causeway restaurants at noon until 3 o’clock or so socializing.

mom on a mission Says:

Wed, Apr 08, 2009 at 8:34 pm

There needs to be at least 5 County Commissioners in Mobile County. We are not being properly represented in the southern part of County I don’t know about the rest of Mobile County. Our County Commissioner will not answer much less return a phone call. If the Commissioners were doing their job the other areas would not be willing to be Annexed. They have given up on the County and are willing to give the City a chance. Wake up Commissioners if all areas become Annexed areas we won’t need to you on the pay roll!!!! Saving us the Tax payers $240,000.00 plus a year.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Apr 08, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Another thing that bothers me about the county commisioners is that the vehicles they drive are over the top gas guzzlers. They tool around in these things all the time at taxpayer expense!

Give themm some small hybrids, or three segways!

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Apr 08, 2009 at 6:14 pm

I like Brooks’ idea, but it would probably end up like the city council. They are suppose to be part-time, but they make it a full time position and get the money in other ways.

The 2009 city budget increased the dollars allotted to the council exponentially when compared to other departments with much, much larger numbers of employees. Something is wrong with that and no questions are asked. Plus, the council members do not have to be accountable to the taxpayers for those dollars. Where does the money go and why did they deserve such a huge increase, during these difficult economic times?