To the Editor,

The Robeson County commissioners are going to spend three days together this week during their annual retreat — approximately 16 hours if they stick by their published schedule and they’re not going to talk about their extraordinary pay and benefits package? Hard to believe!

For the past several months there have been multiple media reports about the commissioners’ pay and stipends — fourth highest in North Carolina — and the incredible discretionary fund — $40,000 per year per commissioner — and still no indication on how the elected officials intend to respond to these calls for accountability.

All this while other reports indicate Robeson County continues to be one of the poorest counties in the state. Citizens should be outraged but most are probably too busy trying to make a living or figuring out how to pay the mortgage and health care costs.

We’re all in this situation together — the desire for Robeson County to be a better place for all. For our elected commissioners to remain silent on these financial issues demonstrates, indeed, a lack of real leadership in times when leadership is needed.

Lolita Townsend

Rowland