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Meck. County manager to get $38,000 bonus

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - The Mecklenburg County Commission voted Wednesday night to give County Manager Harry Jones a $38,000 bonus.

Some people didn't think Jones should get such a big bonus in the bad economy, but the commissioners said Jones earned it.

The county manager isn't talking about his compensation package, but commissioners say he's earned every dollar.

"We gave Harry Jones absolutely no increase," said County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts.  "Every aspect of his compensation is the exact same as it was last year."

Commissioners who unanimously approved the pay package said Jones was faced with the burden of cutting services and tightening the budget belt.

"He went beyond the call of what a county manager had to do being creative and innovative, and in the end, he was efficient and cost effective in providing services to people who are in need," Roberts said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Dumont Clarke says the county manager didn't get all of the bonus dollars that were allowed under his contract.

"So, actually, it was 11 percent less of what he would have been entitled to," Clarke said.

It is an issue to be revisited again next November in what some say will be another tight budget year.

Here's the breakdown of how much Jones will make from the county this year.  His base salary is a little more than $215,000 and he'll be getting a bonus of about $38,000.

With other financial perks, Jones' total yearly earning is more than $302,000.  This is the exact same amount he received last year.