Griffin Circuit asks Upson County to back judges— move to state pay and support raises for court staff
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Summary
Griffin Judicial Circuit leaders asked the Upson County Board of Commissioners to support judges— opting into a state pay plan under House Bill 85, which would reduce county supplements by $30,000 per judge, and to approve a 6.25% raise for circuit employees that would be budget-neutral when savings take effect.
Chief Judge Scott Ballard of the Griffin Judicial Circuit and Will Simmons, the circuit—s district court administrator, urged the Upson County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 to support a change in judicial pay and consider a corresponding raise for circuit employees.
Ballard and Simmons told the board the General Assembly enacted House Bill 85 this year to phase counties off supplementing judges— salaries. Simmons said judges in the circuit have elected to "opt in" to the new state pay schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026, a move that would lower the supplement the circuit pays for each judge by $30,000. "The objective is to roll counties off of supplementing judicial judges," Simmons said.
The circuit has five superior court judges; Simmons said the $30,000 reduction per judge would yield a total circuit savings of about $250,000. He asked Upson County to support the change so the county—s share of judge supplements would decrease when the state salary takes effect. "If you would support this," Simmons said, "we would . . . ask for the support of our circuit employees for 06/2025 again, which would be budget neutral because of the savings."
Ballard also asked the commissioners to continue a long-standing local practice: paying a portion of locality pay to senior (retired) judges who accept senior-judge status and serve as needed. "If we can continue to use senior judges . . . it's not nearly as necessary" to request a sixth judge for the circuit, Ballard said, adding that retaining senior judges helps manage caseloads.
Commissioners pressed for county-specific numbers and pro rata breakdowns. Commissioner Ellington said the board needed a clear figure for "what our citizens— portion is" before deciding and asked staff for the county—s share of the projected savings. Simmons said the circuit would provide a resolution and a pro rata savings breakdown and that staff could plan for a November vote. "If we know, hey. This is...we can do that tonight," Simmons said when asked if a number could be provided quickly.
On staffing, Simmons said most circuit employees are on Fayette County payroll and that Fayette County recently disapproved a 6.25% increase for its employees. He said the projected judge-supplement savings could make a 6.25% raise for circuit employees budget-neutral once the judge pay change is in effect. Commissioners said they would review the numbers during the county—s budget hearings and work sessions before taking final action.
No formal county action was taken at the meeting; commissioners asked for the circuit—s written resolution and a pro rata savings estimate so Upson County staff could include the item in budget deliberations.