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Commissioner seeks 2nd opinion after attorney general says no to back pay

Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck says that despite an attorney general's opinion that commissioners aren't required to be paid $25,000 a year, he and his colleagues work hard and deserve that level of pay.
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck says that despite an attorney general's opinion that commissioners aren't required to be paid $25,000 a year, he and his colleagues work hard and deserve that level of pay. Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck says that despite an attorney general's opinion that commissioners aren't required to be paid $25,000 a year, he and his colleagues work hard and deserve that level of pay.

By Kendi A. Rainwater 3 min read

Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck says he and other commissioners deserve more money.

After a Tennessee attorney general’s opinion that commissioners are not entitled to years of back pay or a salary increase, Beck said Wednesday he plans to seek another opinion.

photo Herbert Slatery, along with 14 other state attorneys general, signed a letter urging legislation be advanced to protect the tax-exempt status of religious entities if they refuse to conduct same-sex nuptials.

“It’s like going to the doctor. You don’t just get one opinion,” Beck said. “You don’t take one opinion on anything unless it is God.”

Beck was reacting to the opinion released Tuesday by Attorney General Herbert Slatery III, who said commissioners are not entitled to back pay under state law.

The pay question arose in February when commissioners asked to untie their salaries from the county mayor’s, which would allow them to vote on their own pay scale. The request was set aside in March when commissioners realized they may have been victims of a 37-year-old oversight that could entitle them to thousands of dollars in back pay and higher salaries.