Out-going ag commissioner gives raises to dozens of state employees. (GA)

ajc ^ | 11-15-10 | Aaron Gould Sheinin

[Dacula]

More proof we need to watch the Democratic Party as they leave office.

[Dacula]

State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, retiring after more than 40 years in office, granted raises to more than 30 employees in October as the state continued through a prolonged period of budget cuts.

The raises came to light in an investigation by Channel 2 Action News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It found that the employees all received 5 percent raises, while seven others who work for a subsidiary of the Department of Agriculture received raises between 9 percent and 19 percent. In all, 41 employees received pay increases at a cost to the state of more than $130,000 a year.

State employees have not have raises in three years of recessionary cutbacks, a period that has resulted in furlough days, departmental cutbacks and an overall statewide unemployment rate surpassing the national average.

Joe McCutchen, an Ellijay newsletter publisher, cable TV show host and budget watchdog, says the raises are the wrong thing at the wrong time.

“We just can’t afford it,” he said. “The private sector, a lot of them are laying people off. They’re losing their jobs and the government increasing their pay? I’m totally opposed to it.”

Gary Black, the Republican successor to the top agriculture spot, said he will ask the employees to give back the money.

Irvin, a Democrat leaving office in January, said Monday he wishes he could have given raises to more of his employees. The department has about 600 employees and a receives nearly $30 million in state money a year.

“Compared to the private sector and to other agencies, our employees are grossly underpaid for the amount of responsibility they hold and the work they do,” Irvin said in a statement.

Low pay has caused problems in the past with businesses and other agencies hiring away his employees, Irvin said, noting that state employees have not pay raises in three years.

“All our employees deserve a raise, and it is my hope that, as the economy improves, all state employees’ salaries will begin to reflect the dedication and hard work they have exhibited during these lean times,” Irvin said.

Black, the incoming commissioner, said he will evaluate the raises when he takes office.

“What I would love to do is invite all the folks that received one of these raises to voluntarily rescind them,” Black said. “That’s the best approach.”

Black said he’s in the process of reviewing the agency’s budget and promised a “long-range planning process.”

“We have a lot of employees that need our attention and I want us to make those decisions strategically,” Black said.

But Black would not commit to using the power of his office to rescind the raises if the employees do not voluntarily give them back.

“I’ll make those final decisions on Jan. 10,” he said, referring to the date he takes office.

The Department of Agriculture employees who received the raises in October range in pay, under the new salaries, from $103,472 for state veterinarian and assistant commissioner Carter Black to about $22,000 for a livestock and poultry division employee.

But all of the agency’s top staff, including Carter Black, saw pay raises. Deputy commissioner James Sutton, who heads the plant industry division, saw his salary increase to $94,341, assistant commissioner Oscar Garrison of the consumer protection division is now paid $81,112 and assistant commissioner Robert Harris of the markets division had his pay rise to $55,789.

The commissioner’s salary is set by state law. In 2009, Irvin was paid about $120,000.

Bert Brantley, spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue, said elected officials who run state agencies, such as Irvin, have flexibility in managing their budgets but are limited to the amount set by the General Assembly.

Brantley said he is not aware of other agencies handing out raises and said state employees last saw a pay bump in 2008. Money was built into the 2009 state budget for raises but as the recession worsened, those raises were scrapped.

[Padams]

Thankfully, the reign of Tommy Irvin has come to an end.