Superior court judges ask Ware County to convert supplements to locality pay under House Bill 85
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Summary
Superior court judges appeared before the Ware County commission asking the county to convert existing county supplements to locality pay in line with state House Bill 85; judges said the net effect on pay so far has been small and offered to provide detailed calculations, noting a recent chief judge retirement reduced seats from four to three.
Superior court judges addressed the Ware County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 9 to discuss judicial compensation changes tied to House Bill 85 and to request that the county adopt locality-pay treatment consistent with the state changes. Judge Jeff Ky identified correspondence sent to the commission (letters dated Oct. 17 and Dec. 8, 2025) and described the state compensation reform, the county’s prior supplements and the opt-in process the courts used.
Judge Ky said the net pay impact since the state changes has been small; citing his own calculations, he told commissioners, "my increase was about $50.11 a month," after state pay adjustments and required contributions were accounted for. He explained locality pay is authorized in statute, capped (he cited a 70% cap), and intended to bridge prior supplement differences while the state's pay scales are phased up under the law.
The judges noted that the recent retirement of the chief judge will reduce local superior court seats from four to three until a successor is appointed, affecting local calculations. Judge Ky offered to provide the commission with written calculations and meet with commissioners to explain appropriation mechanics and the figures. Commissioners scheduled a follow-up meeting and asked for the judges' written detail to reconcile county budget expectations with the state-implemented changes.