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Council approves moving Superior Court 3’s Title 4D commissioner from part‑time to full‑time; salary set at roughly $101,773
Summary
The Tippecanoe County Council approved converting the Superior Court 3 4D commissioner position from part time to full time effective July 1 and approved a salary recommendation of about $101,773; the commissioner and judge asked the council to consider a higher pay rate later in the budget cycle.
Tippecanoe County Council on March 11 approved a salary statement to convert the Superior Court 3 4D commissioner position from part time to full time and set a recommended salary of approximately $101,773 effective July 1.
For the record, Judge Graham, who spoke for Superior Court 3, explained that the personnel committee had recommended the change and that the position would have duties comparable to a magistrate. “The full time 4 d position is, in essence, a magistrate position, but is completely county funded,” Judge Graham said, and he asked the council to consider whether a higher salary should be set to align with judicial officers in similarly populated counties.
Mandy Guzman, the current part‑time 4D commissioner, told the council she has served in the role about four years and provided a handout comparing salaries in other Indiana counties. She explained that elected judges in Indiana make about $183,000 by statute and that magistrates are statutorily paid 80% of that amount; Guzman said the proposed $101,773 would be about 69% of a magistrate’s salary while noting other counties pay higher amounts. “I would propose that this council consider the salary, the salary, a salary increase, based on some of the information that's presented in this handout,” Guzman said.
Council members asked whether the position had gone through the WES/WISC classification and about the portion of the salary reimbursed by federal Title IV‑D funds. Staff confirmed the position had been assessed and that some reimbursements are received through Title IV‑D programs, meaning the county does not fund the entire salary out of general funds.
Several council members said it was prudent to approve the personnel committee’s recommendation now and revisit salary levels during the budget process. One council member said, “I do understand the 40 is also reimbursable, so there's some things there that, are unique to the position. Obviously, I fully support moving to full time.” The council approved the salary statement by voice vote.
Councilors recorded that they would discuss a higher percentage (for example 70% of judge pay) during budget deliberations; Guzman said a 70% figure would put the salary closer to $128,000. The motion to convert the position and set the interim salary passed by voice vote; council members directed staff to consider the higher-compensation request in upcoming budget conversations.
