NATCHEZ — In May 2015, the City of Natchez had five employees earning more than $6,000 monthly, according to salary reports, when in May 2012, no one earned more than $5,800.

Of those top 5, though, two of the positions receive outside funding from set-aside taxes or grants, and one is likely not what it seems, Mayor Butch Brown said.

The top salary getter in 2015 is Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Kevin Kirby, who brought home $7,916.44 in May.

His predecessor, Connie Taunton, earned $4,633.34 in May 2012.

Although the CVB’s payroll is processed through the city’s payroll system, the money comes from a separate CVB budget, which receives funding in part from several tourism-specific taxes.

Next on the 2015 top earners’ list was, Traffic Director Curtis Norton, who has since retired. Norton reportedly made $6,738.94 in May 2015.

In May 2012, Norton made $2,666.68 a month.

Brown said he couldn’t explain this significant pay increase.

“I’m certain his salary didn’t double,” Brown said. “I think that’s an error, and I challenge that.”

The third highest earner was Natchez Transit System director and Natchez Senior Citizen Multipurpose Center Director Sabrena Bartley. Bartley’s budget does include a large sum of federal grant dollars.

She brought home $6,642.38 in May 2015. In May 2012, she earned $5,791.28.

The fourth highest earner in May 2015 was IT director Ed Bowser, who brought home $6,250.64.

In May 2012, the IT director, Eric Junkin, earned $4,166.66.

And the fifth highest salary in May 2015 was Community Development Director James Johnston. He earned $6,250.64.

His position did not exist in 2012.

Mayor Butch Brown said the increases in salaries — and the city’s 19-employee increase since May 2012 — didn’t surprise him.

Since taking office, Brown said he as worked to make sure salaries stay competitive.

He said city positions that have increased in pay since he became mayor — such as the IT director and community development director — are well deserved.

“Ed (Bowser) has immensely more experience (than Junkin),” Brown said. “I am tickled to death with what he does.”

Since Bowser became IT director, Brown said the city has consolidated its IT needs — taking out any IT-related items from all city department budgets.

“He now does all the IT work,” Brown said of Bowser.

Johnston, who takes home a $6,250.65 paycheck each month and whose position wasn’t introduced until Brown became mayor, focuses on securing grants for the city.

“James brings in millions and millions of dollars for the city every year,” Brown said. “He’s the second highest in getting money (for the city). I’m the first.”

When Johnston was hired, Brown said he promised him a competitive salary.

“He came from a ridiculously low salary, and we made him promises on what he did with getting monies for the city,” Brown said. “He could be making $150,000 a year in the county if he wanted to.”

Brown pointed out that since May 2015, there have been some changes within city departments — changes that have saved taxpayer dollars.

In June, the planning department lost City Planner Frankie Legaux, who left Natchez for a higher paying job of similar capacity in Texas.

Instead of hiring a new city planner, however, the city enlisted then assistant city planner Rico Giani to fill Legaux’s position — which earned $4,997.40 per month.

Similarly, the city has yet to replace Traffic Director Curtis Norton.

At a recent budget work session, Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith urged to board to hold off on replacing any vacant positions within the city, like traffic director.

“We need to see if we can do without these positions,” Smith said.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis argued, however, that some of the recent employee additions were necessary — such as two grass cutters within the city’s public works department.

“Public works will have a banner year with 2016,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “We will be wanting to make the city look the best that it can look

With the addition of those two employees — plus grass cutting equipment — the city’s public works budget grew by $56,515.

Brown said the public works department, however, has undergone a complete overhaul recently with its absorption of city engineering.

Brown said by consolidating the city’s engineering department into public works, it’s been able to stretch its dollars further.

Neither the mayor nor the board of aldermen sets the salary for the CVB director or the transit system’s director, Brown said.

Previous administration

Looking at the city’s top earners from May 2012, former Mayor Jake Middleton said he wasn’t surprised, either.

When Middleton left office, the city’s biggest earners were Bartley, Middleton, Natchez City Attorney Everett Sanders, Taunton and Natchez Police Officer Elvis Prater. Prater’s salary, like that of Norton’s in 2015, is likely no a fair representation of his actual monthly earnings.

The top earners deserved it, Middleton said.

“Sabrena (Bartley) was one of the best,” Middleton said of his administration’s top earner. “If she wanted a grant, she goes after it.”