To the Editor,

The recent article in The Robesonian concerning the Robeson County commissioners pay being the fourth highest in the state of North Carolina was quite disappointing. It raises considerable questions and should send an alarm signal to all taxpaying citizens of Robeson.

Why? We live in the poorest county in the state — 100th out of 100! — and we struggle daily to increase our standard of living in order to provide more opportunity for our children. So why should our elected commissioners receive the fourth-highest pay?

It surely cannot be based on performance; therefore, we must assume it is based on other criteria, such as the size of the county, or longevity. Neither of these criteria should be acceptable to anyone who measures by quality.

Deliver a superior product and you can expect to get paid; deliver a worthless product and you can expect — by our elected county commissioners’ standards — you will get paid the fourth highest salary in the state, right in line with Charlotte,

Fayetteville, Greensboro and Wilmington.

Folks, if you don’t see a problem with this then our county will continue to set the standard at the bottom of the pile. Here are two questions for Mr. Noah Woods, who we invite to respond through an open source media.

— Who sets the salary and travel stipend?

— Is there a conflict of interest?

Here are some recommendations:

— Have an unbiased authority set financial policy.

— Set the salaries based on county performance — economy, employment, median income and total population averages measured against all North Carolina counties.

— Record your travel miles and file your travel miles. Set a limit not to exceed. All others have to abide by rules and standards.

Why are the commissioners exempt?

Phineaus Locklear

Friends of Philadelphus