http://66.225.205.104/LM20091125.mp3
It's been a tough year for most City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County employees. Budgets have been slashed. People have lost their jobs. Salaries have been frozen. That hasn't kept three high-ranking officials from getting a combined $70,000 in bonuses. WFAE's Lisa Miller has more: The bonuses come during a year when city and county employees will not receive pay raises or merit-based bonuses. No one, that is, except City Manager Curt Walton, City Attorney Mac McCarley and County Manager Harry Jones. Walton will receive $16,000 this year, McCarley $15,000 and Jones $38,000. Council members and commissioners have defended the bonuses saying the three will not be taking home any more than they did last year. "I believe Harry Jones has done a very, very good job, an excellent job as Manager in a very difficult year," said County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts at a meeting earlier this month. So far Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman is the only city or county official to turn down a bonus this year.