Pender County budget workshop focuses on reclassifications, sheriff pay options and outside‑agency grants

Pender County staff presented a draft fiscal plan and a set of personnel reclassification proposals that include 23 reclasses, two new positions and several options for adjusting sheriff’s office pay, prompting a detailed discussion among commissioners about recruitment, retention and how to pay for recurring costs.

Brie, the county’s new housing director, told the board her department requested a modest one‑time increase of $7,200 to hire an outside certified inspector to complete inspections for about 160 housing units because the county’s previous inspector held a certification that allowed internal inspections. "We are not allowed to conduct our own," Brie said, explaining that the work must be performed by an outside INSPIRE‑certified inspector unless the county has a certified individual who is not inspecting their own properties.

Budget team staff presented a longer list of requested changes to pay grades and positions across county departments. Highlights included:

- Regrading the inspections director position from grade 15 to grade 18 to resolve a salary‑compression issue with the planning director and senior inspectors. - Adjusting register of deeds employees’ step placement to…