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Commission hears request to equalize pay for select court administrative staff; $29,503 requested
Summary
Judges asked the commission to correct inconsistent pay among certain court administrative positions. The judges and executive committee negotiated a reduced request; the proposal would cost roughly $29,503.44 and was sent to the budget committee. Commissioners debated timing and whether hourly rates should be set outside the budget process.
Judges asked Sullivan County commissioners to approve a budget adjustment to equalize pay among a limited group of court administrative staff, a request the sponsor said would cost roughly $29,503.44.
Commissioners described the issue as pay-scale inconsistency among workers whose duties have evolved from secretarial tasks to office-management responsibilities. Sponsor and budget committee members said judges and county staff negotiated a lower figure following executive committee engagement.
Several commissioners supported fixing the disparity but raised concerns about timing and precedent. One commissioner said such adjustments should be considered during budget season rather than via mid-cycle pay changes, and another urged caution about setting hourly rates in resolutions.
Supporters argued the change would remedy long-standing pay inequities that had left some workers making several dollars less per hour than peers performing similar duties. The judges' request had been considered by the executive and budget committees and was recommended to the full commission.
No final vote occurred at the meeting; commissioners discussed removing an hourly-rate exhibit from resolution language and moving the dollar figure forward for formal consideration at the next meeting.
