The Horry County Council could have given itself a raise. But members said no.
The Horry County Council is denying itself a pay raise, with members voting overwhelmingly Jan. 10 to keep their compensation at levels that haven’t changed in decades.
Two of its newcomers — Tom Anderson and Jenna Dukes — joined seven others in rejecting a proposal that would hike their pay by 25% starting next year. It would have been the council’s first wage adjustment since 1999.
“The first time I ever ran, I didn’t know we got paid,” Anderson, who served for 20 years on the Conway City Council, told The Sun News Jan. 11. “More won’t hurt me, less won’t hurt me. I’m here to help. The pay is not a big consideration for my service.”
Councilmembers Al Allen, Anderson, Dukes, Cam Crawford, Mike Causey, Dennis DiSibato, chairman Johnny Gardner, Danny Hardee and Tyler Servant voted against the pay raises, while Bill Howard, Gary Loftus and Michael Masciarelli were in favor.
Dukes, Howard and Masciarelli were not immediately available for comment Jan. 11.
Right now, council members get $15,957 a year and a $4,000 expense account. The chairman is paid $25,751 with a $5,500 expense account.
By comparison, Georgetown County Council members are paid $15,947 while it chairman receives $19,433. Horry County school trustees make $15,966 annually, while its chairman is paid $19,959.
Officials late last year talked about streamlining the process by simply paying every member a flat rate: $25,000 for council members and $39,128 for the chairman — a formula that would do away with expense accounts.
That would amount to a roughly 25% boost for everyone.
“In the total scheme of things, it’s not a heck of a lot of money,” Loftus said. “And it might open up the potential pool of candidates, which isn’t all bad.”
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Had the wage hike gone into affect, it wouldn’t have impacted community benefit funds or county-provided benefits such as health insurance.
Top statewide officers including Attorney General Alan Wilson and Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver are in line for more money this year — more than doubling their $92,000 salaries to $208,000 and $214,000 respectively.
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As South Carolina’s fastest growing county and its largest by geography, increasing salaries for its elected officials helps keep pace with inflation, fluctuating gas prices and other market costs, language in the ordinance suggests.
Horry County has a 1,500-mile road network, four airports and more than 30 miles of beachfront.
“In the performance of their duties, individual County Council members spend large amount of time and effort each week to address the needs attendant to their position, being compensated a relatively small amount in exchange for providing such beneficial and necessary service to our community,” the ordinance states.
