Audit: documentation needed for big N.C. Legislature pay hikes

 

RALEIGH, N.C. Legislative leaders should establish written personnel rules and require more documentation before offering significant pay raises to staff members.

 

That's the opinion of State Auditor Les Merritt.

 

Merritt's office made the recommendation today in its first financial review of the Legislature in six-and-a-half years.

 

According to the audit, salary increases for 15 workers were above the 10 percent annual limit allowed by the General Assembly's personnel manual.

 

A spokesman for Merritt's office says one of the 15 workers was House principal clerk Denise Weeks, who received a 35 percent raise in October 2005.

 

The others were administrative employees and were not political appointees of either House speaker Jim Black or Senate leader Marc Basnight.

 

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