Senators: Public safety budget cut didn’t come from official’s husband

A provision added to the state budget to eliminate a high-ranking position in the state’s public safety agency did not come from the House’s chief budget writer, according to two key senators.

A reshuffling at the safety agency has raised suspicions of retaliation over the budget cut.

Lorrie Dollar, who is the wife of the House chief budget writer and has been the DPS chief operating officer, is now out of her job at the safety agency.

Greg Baker, the law enforcement official whose job was targeted in the budget for removal and who is also close to Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry, has been retained at the agency.

Baker is taking a role similar to the one held by Dollar, whose husband is Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican, and that of William Crews, who was commissioner of administration and worked closely with Lorrie Dollar. Lorrie Dollar’s administrative assistant, Christina Poucher, was also moved out of her job.

Perry, who has led the agency since August 2013, has not agreed to an interview request about what has transpired.

On Wednesday, the agency’s main spokeswoman said efforts were underway to find “great opportunities” in other state government jobs for those affected by the reorganization. The Department of Public Safety released employment records Thursday showing no recent transfers, terminations or resignations for any of the three employees.

Perry said in a memo the move was to improve efficiencies by consolidating job responsibilities.

Interviews on Thursday indicated that Rep. Nelson Dollar of Cary was not responsible for putting the job removal provision in the budget.

Sen. Shirley Randleman, a Republican from Wilkesboro, said it was a decision made by herself and the other leaders of the House and Senate justice and public safety appropriations subcommittees.

Sen. Harry Brown, a Republican from Jacksonville and the Senate’s chief budget writer, also said Thursday the provision to eliminate the law enforcement commissioner in the Department of Public Safety was recommended without controversy by those subcommittee chairs.

The provision was not publicly known until the proposed final budget was released on Sept. 14.

On Wednesday, Perry announced the reorganization of upper management in his department, creating a new position for Baker, who had been the law enforcement commissioner but was now out of a job due to the budget provision. Perry had hired Baker; both men are former FBI agents who were based in North Carolina.

At the same time, the restructuring eliminated Lorrie Dollar’s and Crew’s positions.

Crews told The News & Observer that he was waiting to hear what new position might be offered to him, and that he would consider it. Dollar and Poucher could not be reached for comment.

Perry, in a memo to department staff on Wednesday, described the reorganization as a consolidation of the leadership team to make the agency more efficient and accountable. Spokeswoman Pamela Walker said it was the third such consolidation that Perry had undertaken She said the consolidations are saving the agency hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Senators: Public safety budget cut didn’t come from official’s husband."