Part-Time County Commissioners?

The Mobile County Commission could expand from three members to five or maybe even seven.

In an effort to give more representation to rural areas, the Alabama House voted to increase the Mobile County Commission to five members.

For each current commissioner making about $80,000 a year, they represent more than 130-thousand people each.

According to State Representative Spencer Collier, the lines would be drawn like they are for school board members and would mean paying two additional salaries. "I know there are some commissioners that are questioning the cost of this. What I would recommend to them is if they are concerned about the cost that the county incurs, maybe they could give up taxpayer funded vehicles or their taxpayer funded insurance or taxpayer funded retirements."

The Senate will now tackle the expansion issue. Senator Ben Brooks is proposing to make it a seven member, part-time commission instead. His idea would include letting the citizens vote on it. Collier likes the idea of seven members but doesn't believe it will pass this year.

Mobile County Commission President Mike Dean is still unsure about a 5 member commission but disagrees with the part-time idea. "I wonder if it aint broke, there's nothing to fix. I can tell you right there, this is not a part-time job. Look at the school board. I will definitely be opposed to part-time county commissioners."