Commissioners approve retroactive increase to court reporters’ monthly stipend

Appling County commissioners approved increasing the monthly stipend for court reporters assigned to the county’s superior court judges from $50 to $100 and directed the change to be retroactive to Jan. 2025.

A commissioner said the increase had been discussed previously and recommended recording the change in the minutes: “The court reporters as discussed was, requested they go from 50 to a $100 stopping monthly,” and that the board should “put it in the minutes so that it's reflect.” The discussion clarified the increase applies only to court reporters assigned to the county’s five judges, not all court reporters.

Commissioner Sellers moved to approve the change; Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. The motion was described as retroactive to Jan. 2025. The chair called for the vote and the motion carried; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally by name.

The board noted that other counties in the Brunswick–Houston judicial circuit had implemented the same stipend increase.