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Residents, educators urge Southampton County to move to twice‑monthly pay; call for school funding
Summary
During the public‑comment period, residents and a teacher urged Southampton County supervisors to switch county pay to twice monthly, cited recruitment and retention problems and asked for investment in new school buildings and teacher pay.
Orice Lane, a resident of 26315 Shady Brook Trail, told the Southampton County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 that county employees should be paid biweekly instead of once a month to ease financial strain for families. "This process can be done," Lane said, adding that surrounding localities pay on the 15th and 30th and that the current schedule can create a six‑week gap before workers receive their next paycheck.
Jessica Banks, a teacher and long‑time county resident, told the board she supports twice‑monthly pay for county and school employees, and separately urged the board to explore building two new schools and providing funding beyond state mandates. "More frequent pay periods can ease financial strain for workers, families, improve morale, and make the county more competitive," Banks said.
A separate public commenter raised staffing concerns in the sheriff's office, saying deputies are leaving in part because of pay and urging the board to act on a county pay study. The commenter said, "I've lost two last week, and I just had another one that come up today talking about the pay." Board members did not adopt a change to payroll at the meeting; public comments were received and will be part of the board's ongoing personnel and budget discussions as FY27 budget planning proceeds.
The public comment period closed after roughly a half dozen speakers. The board took no immediate vote on pay‑period changes; staff and supervisors noted the pay study and the upcoming budget calendar as the appropriate venues for further consideration.
