Superior court judges ask DeKalb to preserve benefits ahead of state deadline; committee defers resolution to April 22

Superior court officials asked DeKalb County’s Finance, Audit and Budget Committee on April 3 to adopt a local resolution preserving several judicial benefits after recent state legislation limits county ability to change judge compensation after June 30.

Lenora Hawkins Ponzo, district court administrator for the Fourth Judicial District and trial court administrator for superior court, told commissioners that House Bill 85 would lock in superior court judges’ benefits as of June 30 and preclude additional benefit increases during judges’ terms. She said judges were asking the county to adopt a local resolution to preserve longevity pay, state retirement reimbursements and accountability‑court supplements, and to allow funding of health and fringe benefits.

Hawkins Ponzo said the county currently provides a set of locality and supplemental payments that total about $802,000 in the aggregate, and that judges want those components preserved or replaced with equivalent benefits so their overall compensation package is not reduced by the state law change. She described an analysis prepared for the committee showing the county could repurpose existing locality funding toward specified benefits and still realize net savings; the administrator said the exact numbers may change slightly once final state language is available.

Committee members and staff stressed timing concerns. The general assembly’s action and the governor’s signature could change precise implementation details; the committee asked legal staff to review final bill text and recommended that staff and legal coordinate with the county delegation. Several commissioners said they wanted the final resolution language to mirror measures adopted in other large counties.

Given ongoing changes in the Senate bill (SB 350) and because the precise administrative effects hinge on final state action, the committee deferred the measure to its April 22 meeting so county legal staff, the chief judge’s office and the county’s lobbyist can finalize language and cost estimates. The county’s interim attorney and legal staff will work with court leadership to prepare a draft that can return for committee and board action in time to meet internal deadlines before June 30.

No binding appropriation was enacted at the meeting; commissioners asked for a resolution draft that identifies which benefit components the county would preserve, a clear fiscal impact statement and authority contingent on final bill text. If the county approves a resolution, staff said it would rely on existing budgeted locality funds and described the goal as preserving judges’ existing aggregate compensation rather than increasing overall payroll.

The committee’s April 22 meeting will include legal review and a proposed draft resolution; staff said they will circulate versions used by other counties for comparison and to aid drafting.