#ncga: $peaker Timmy, very expen$ive. (And under review?)

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Yes, it’s becoming more and more clear that the leader of the “conservative revolution” is making a KILLING off of the taxpayers.  Here’s the latest:

Seven months ago, we began investigating a series of questions surrounding Tim Moore, the powerful Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. One of those concerns is the large amount of taxpayer dollars Moore has been paid for four separate government jobs.[…]

Oh, and don’t forget the “consulting” gig(s) the SBI is reportedly looking at.  (And his law firm.  And his real estate business.)  Um, MOORE:

On October 17th, we travelled to Shelby, North Carolina, the seat of Cleveland County, where Moore serves as part-time County Attorney. We met with County Manager Brian Epley to discuss questions around Moore’s large billings to the County.

Moore’s cousin, then-County Commission Chairman Jason Falls, played a key role in getting Moore a contract. With the addition of a new assistant attorney, taxpayers were told the arrangement would save them money.

The month after Moore was hired, the County Manager at the time, Jeff Richardson, said:

“We will finish one budget with this arrangement in place and do our cost-savings analysis. The thing to keep in mind, is that if you look at 2012-13, using an outside legal firm for $149,069 year at $220 an hour, and you decide to go and hire an internal staff attorney that works 40 hours per week, which works out to 2,000 hours per year at $45 per hour, and that’s the comparison.”

C&BP Analysis of Cleveland County Invoices

A new analysis conducted by Checks and Balances Project (C&BP), however, indicates it has cost Cleveland County significantly more, while Moore has earned a large amount of money for what he asserted would be “a part-time job.’

Records indicate that during the 36 months covered by our analysis, the taxpayers of Cleveland County have been paying an average of $26,751 per year or $80,253 over three years more for legal services than under Moore’s predecessor as county attorney. Meanwhile, Tim Moore has been paid $275,173 or an average of $91,724 a year.

According to our analysis:

  • $275,173 for County Attorney Tim Moore
    • Year 1: $53,384
    • Year 2: $63,906
    • Year 3: $157,883
  • $252,288 for Assistant County Attorney
    • Year 1: $108,124 for Leslie-Fite ($83,172 salary + 30% estimated cost of benefits)
    • Year 2: $108,124 for Leslie-Fite ($83,172 salary + 30% estimated cost of benefits)
    • Year 3: $27,030 for 3 months Leslie-Fite (estimated salary + benefits)
    • Year 3: $8,644 for 1-month Eliot Engstrom ($79,794 salary + 30% benefits)
  • TOTAL cost: $527,461
  • Average annual cost $175,820.

We asked County Manager Epley about the claim that hiring Moore and a new staff attorney would save Cleveland County money.

[…]

Water District Contract

Before Moore got his deal with Cleveland County, he already had a contract with another part of local government: The Cleveland County Water District. According to public records, during the same 36-month period that the Speaker was paid $275,173 as part-time County Attorney, the County Water District paid Moore an additional $77,524.

To view Moore’s invoice totals and hours over three years that were submitted to the Water District CLICK HERE. To view Moore’s Water District invoices from Feb. 2014-July 2018, CLICK HERE.

Moore’s Pay as State Rep and Speaker

There’s also Moore’s pay from North Carolina taxpayers for his elected roles as Speaker of the House and State Representative. According to figures provided by the State Comptroller in 2015, state taxpayers paid Moore $83,873, including $37,305 in base salary. This includes $104 a day for 276 days in subsistence pay, plus about $12,000 in expense reimbursements and $6,000 for travel. For three years, we estimate he received $251,619.

When you add up Tim Moore’s taxpayer-funded government checks, it’s no small amount: $604,319 over the last three years or an average of $201,439 annually.

[…]