Commissioner Ray Goodson laid down the gauntlet to his five fellow members of the Pike County Commission on Monday evening.

Goodson said he was willing to cut his salary by 50 percent in order to help the county save money for use for projects such as road paving.

“We should start cutting at this table,” said Goodson. “Start with our salaries instead of cutting the road department employees who are on call.”

Goodson’s sentiments stemmed from a discussion raised by Commissioner Charlie Harris. Harris wanted the commission to take a look at the practice of county employees taking county-owned vehicles home after hours.

Other commissioners said that if the commissioners were to take a pay cut, then other cuts would come as well.

“My opinion is that if the commissioners take a 50 percent pay cut, then we are going to make pay cuts all across the board,” said District 6 Commissioner Joey Jackson. “It won’t be just here. Our county has been able to give raises every year since 2007, while state employees have not had a raise in six years.”

Commissioner Jimmy Barron said that every small amount of money saved could be put to use somewhere.

“People shouldn’t be abusing these county vehicles,” said Barron. “The public sees this, and they are right. We are trying to cut in every way we can.”

The commission voted to table the decision until further discussion and deliberation can be conducted.

Also at the meeting, the commission voted to vacate Pike County Road 3317, and they passed an amendment to a Community Development Block Grant Project. The project change will result in the county including CR 7703 on a grant application instead of CR 7706.

The next scheduled meeting is set for March 25.