North Carolina regulators are seeking to evaluate whether the state's current system for the distribution and sale of alcohol is in need of serious reform. Governor Beverly Perdue's Budget Reform and Accountability Commission will begin exploring issues which played a role in creating a salary scandal in New Hanover's ABC board among others. Questions and concerns began to surround the board and its use of tax revenue after investigative reports from Wilmington's Star News came to reveal some unusual salaries amongst the county board's administrators.
New Hanover county's Alcoholic Beverage Control commission began to catch criticism this past December when a report revealed 50% salary increases the board's administrators occuring over the course of four years. Board administrator Billy Williams was clearing over $250,000 in salary, bonuses, and "longevity pay" while assistant administrator Bradley Williams, also saw hefty pay increases to $115,000 in 2009 from a $75,000 salary just four years earlier. Further concerns were addressed to the fact that Bradley is the son of Billy Williams.
Stephen Culbreth, Richard Hanson and Charles Wells were asked to explain the salaries by the county commissioners. Culbreth explained that the salaries were fair due to high profitability. However, surveys later concluded that the Williams duo held among the highest salaries compared to administrators in areas with leading sales, including Charlotte. Culbreth, Hanson, and Wells later resigned from the board in January, overwhelmed by the controversy. Billy Williams will be retiring from his position on February 26th and is said to expect close to $100,000 a year in retirement pay.
New Hanover county expects to fill the seat left vacant by Williams sometime in April. Currently they are busy at work narrowing down over a hundred applications for the position which had been newly titled, "CEO."
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