FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – With the inflation rate soaring to 6.2 percent, the highest in more than three decades, and consumer prices skyrocketing, County Commissioners agreed to give themselves an $8,000 increase in their annual base salary Thursday.

The Board voted 4-0, with Commissioner Molly Cooper absent, to direct County Attorney Ken Jarrard to draft a resolution for their approval during the first meeting of the New Year. The pay raise does not impact the commissioners benefit package.

Commissioner Todd Levent

Commissioner’s base salary is currently $34,900 annually. District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent explained that commissioners have not had a cost of living allowance (COLA) since 2010. “If we had received the same inflationary increases that our employees have, we would have a base salary of $51,000 now. We raised the base by $8,000 which is halfway between where we are now and where would have been had we received the annual cost of living increases. ”

While it was not on the agenda, Commissioner Laura Semanson initiated a discussion of term limits for county commissioners. She and Commissioner Alfred John support term limits. Levent and Chairwoman Cindy Jones Mills do not. Both are in their third term on the Board.

“I’m going to talk about term limits every time we talk about increasing our salaries,” Semanson said.

Jones Mills argued, “I feel like the voters should determine who stays in and who stays out. We cheat our voters by starting over too quickly. Just because we as a Board disagree with voters doesn’t mean they are wrong.”

John said he does not know what the limit should be on a person holding the office of county commissioner, but did say, “I don’t believe someone should be in elected office – a career politician – for 20-30 years.”