This may set a dangerous precedent for public officials’ bank accounts.

The Batesburg-Leesville Town Council has voted to lower its pay from $500 to $400 a month. That’s a cut in pay of $1,200, from $6,000 to $4,800 a year.

That brings them closer to the $200 a month Mayor Lancer Shull is paid.

On a 5-4 vote, the council replaced the mayor on the Lexington County Joint Municipal Water & Sewer commission board on which other mayors serve.

Councilman Steve Cain received the majority vote to be the town’s representative to the commission, Town Administrator Ted Luckadoo said.

“Since the meeting, 2 Council members that voted for Councilman Cain have since stated they want to have a special meeting to reconsider their votes,” Luckadoo told the Chronicle.