RALEIGH N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore is spending less on staff salaries this year than in 2016, according to data from the speaker’s office. A list obtained by North State Journal indicates that Moore’s Chief of Staff Bart Goodson, is the highest paid in the office at just more than $172,000 in annual salary, followed by senior adviser Mitch Gillespie at $104,545. The lowest paid? The speaker himself at the legal limit for a N.C. lawmaker’s salary of $38,151.In total for 2017, the 14 staff members supporting the N.C. Speaker of the House earn $1,046,135. In 2016, the 13 member staff made $1,108,154. Those figures include an overall raise for legislative staff implemented in fall of 2016.On the staff list for 2017, is a key promotion; Leah Burns is now deputy chief of staff, earning $69,000. In 2016, Burns served as a policy adviser to the speaker. Goodson was also promoted into his chief of staff role. Last year he served as general counsel.
