Representative Busick presents bill to trim county salary commission membership

Representative Danny Busick told the Local Government Committee on Jan. 27 that House Bill 1825 would change how county salary commissions operate by removing the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney from the commission where those offices’ salaries are set by other processes. "It's basically a small change in the salary commission," Busick said, adding that some counties now set those salaries by other means and the commission no longer affects them.

Busick, who said he served 18 years as an associate commissioner in Sullivan County, told the committee the bill also includes minor statutory clean-up, such as replacing the term "chairman" with "chair." He said one county — Boone County — remains an exception under current law and "there will need to be [an] amendment in order to allow him to stay on the salary commission."

Committee members asked clarifying questions about which offices the change affects and whether the struck language removes redundancy. Representative Wolfen asked why the sheriff and prosecuting attorney are being removed; Busick replied that "their salary is set by other means" and therefore they are no longer affected by the salary commission. Representative Walsh Moore and others said they have heard the bill in prior sessions and generally support the streamlined change.

No public witnesses provided testimony on HB1825 during the hearing and the committee closed the public hearing on the measure.