After an executive session during Monday’s board meeting, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors passed a motion that resulted in an almost $20,000 salary increase for Pearl River County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin.

Lumpkin asked the board for a raise that day, with the intention of saving the county money, after he was named comptroller to manage the county’s funds, a position once held by David Earl Johnson. 

Lumpkin served as the assistant comptroller for the past eight years. The raise also recognizes Lumpkin’s role as the county’s planning and development director since Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero left the position in July.

“I’ve been given those duties, and I asked the board to give me an extra $20,000. The county has been paying close to $140,000 for both positions. This will save the county more than $100,000, instead of hiring new employees to fill the positions,” Lumpkin said.

Lumkin said his salary will now be $125,000 per year.

District IV Supervisor Farron Moeller said he made the motion to authorize the pay raise following Lumpkin’s request.  

“Since our comptroller isn’t with us, Adrain was willing to take that on when he asked for a raise. I decided to make the motion since he was willing to do this with this amount of money, in addition to the job he’s already doing,” Moeller said. 

He added that it was a good move in order to save the county money.

Moeller, District I Supervisor Donald Hart and District III Supervisor Hudson Holliday voted for the raise, while District V Supervisor Sandy Kane Smith and District II Supervisor Malcolm Perry voted against it.

Both Perry and Smith said they suggested during Monday’s meeting to hire a full-time comptroller to specifically handle the county’s money, but it didn’t pass.

“We wanted Adrain to do the job temporarily and advertise for someone to be comptroller, specifically dealing with funds, which would be better for the county,” Smith said. “This would let the administrator manage our people.”

Lumpkin said he’ll take on the responsibility of the positions until the board decides otherwise.