IN BRIEF: A proposed $16,000 bump in pay for the coordinator of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, a federal grant funded housing program, brought questioning at the Board of Commissioners work session Tuesday night.

The raise would bring NSP coordinator Tanesha Lanier's annual contract from $52,000 to $68,000. Lanier was initially hired at the beginning of 2010 at a rate of about $41,600 a year. Her salary is funded by federal NSP funds. Rockdale has been awarded about $4.7 million total through several rounds of NSP funding since 2009 to purchase, fix up, and resell foreclosed homes in neighborhoods to occupants and to provide assitance to homebuyers.

Finance Director Roselyn Miller said that Lanier's responsiblities had increased. "In 2009, when we contracted with this vendor, we were looking for administrative duties. With the expertise of this vendor, we were able to add more responsibilities, such as open houses. She also conducts home buyer seminars, program seminars. Also, she shows our inventory when the asset management companies are not available. She also handles required reporting."

Commissioner JaNice Van Ness praised Lanier's performance but questioned awarding such a large raise. "My concern with this, in light of the economy and the fact we haven’t been able to give our own employees raises, it’s hard for me to justify a $16,000 raise. I know it’s grant funds and I know it’s 100 percent reimbursable. But you also have to look at how it falls in line with the responsibility of department heads who are paid the same. I do think she does a great job. I just can’t justify it to that level."