LUMBERTON — Robeson County is advertising for a full-time tax administrator, five months after the position became open.
The county began advertising the position on its website on Jan. 28. The position has been vacant since August when the county did not extend the contract of Cindy Lowry, who had held the job since 2008. Kellie Blue, now county manager, worked as the interim supervisor for a while, but now Betsy Cummings, wife of former Board of Commissioners Chairman Raymond Cummings, is in that job.
The advertising lists the pay range from $69,847.73 to $89,055.85. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting or related field; six to eight years of experience in tax assessment, appraisal or collections; and six to eight years of supervisory experience. Applicants also must have completed special training and certification by the state Department of Revenue.
Lowry had worked under contract since 2008 and was making $111,954.77 a year when she walked away. The Robesonian was told the county’s low collection rate was the reason for the change, but it grew from about 87 percent to 93 percent under Lowry.
Cummings has worked at the Tax Office since May 21, 2002, when she was hired as a delinquent tax collector. In 2009 she became manager of the Personal Property Division, and currently has an annual salary of $61,657. Her pay has stayed the same as she took on the additional duties.
The Robesonian has been told by multiple sources that some commissioners wanted to hire Cummings, but with the death of Berlester Campbell the needed number of votes did not exist.
Jerry Stephens, who is now board chairman, during an interview with WAGR on Aug. 22 seemed to acknowledge that was a possibility.
“Listen, I’ll give him the credit,” Stephens said of Cummings. “He’s always trying to get things, what he thinks is best, for his, his district, for instance, his people and himself. Listen, don’t fool yourself, we’re all like that brother. Listen. His wife is in there, if she can do the job, if your wife was in there and was going to make $100,000 would you be voting for them? … If she can do the job, would you tell her, you know, I’m a commissioner you ought not to have that job. One hundred grand, let me tell you.”
Stephens said anyone who is qualified for the job has that right to apply, even if that person is related to a commissioner.
“She (Betsy Cummings) has the right to apply,” he said. “That’s strictly up to her. She has the right just like anybody else.”
Stephens said that if Cummings came up for a vote, her husband would have to recuse himself.
Nepotism exists throughout the county, Stephens said. If his daughter were applying for the same position, he’d support her, especially if she was qualified.
“I don’t see how that is going to be nepotism because he (Raymond Cummings) is not going to vote on it,” Stephens said. “It’s going to take at least four other votes to make that happen.”
It all boils down to politics, and the majority vote matters, he said.
“It’s political,” he said. “It’s about who can garner the most votes. If she gets four votes she’ll be the tax director. If she’s not then it’s who gets five out of eight votes.”
Stephens stressed that he did not know if Betsy Cummings was going to apply for the position.
He’s ready to get the interview process started.
“I’ll probably inquire by the end of the week if any applications have come in and I haven’t asked, but I’ll probably ask by the end of the week,” Stephens said.
