East Ridge Council sets city court clerk salary at $70,000; health benefits deferred

The East Ridge City Council on Feb. 12 approved, on first reading as amended, an ordinance setting the city court clerkcompensation at $70,000 and deferred action on offering city-sponsored health benefits to the position.

City Court Clerk Cheyenne Cassidy told council she has served in the role 12 years and requested a salary in the range of $72,500 to bring the elected office closer to comparable municipal and county positions. Cassidy said the clerkposition has not received a pay adjustment in eight years and presented figures meant to reflect cumulative 3% annual increases.

The request prompted detailed questioning from council members and staff about statutory limits and pay-setting mechanics. City Attorney Litchford and others noted that under the city charter and Title 3, Chapter 5, Section 3-504 (quoted in council discussion), compensation for an elected office "shall not be increased or decreased during a single term of office," meaning any change the council sets will remain in place for the next four years unless amended prior to the next election filing period.

Council members debated whether to tie future cost-of-living adjustments to the clerk's pay, how the citycourt workload compares to neighboring municipalities, and whether the city should offer the elected clerk the same option to buy into the employee benefits program that city employees have. Staff offered a ballpark city contribution for health benefits of about $12,000 annually; Cassidy and several council members said benefits help but dont pay bills and that base salary needs to be competitive to attract future candidates.

Councilmember Witt moved to amend the motion on the floor and set the salary at $70,000 while removing immediate consideration of medical benefits; Councilmember Ezell seconded. The amendment passed on roll call (Vice Mayor Tyler, Councilmembers Cagle, Ezell, Witt, and Mayor Williams voting yes). The council then approved Ordinance 12-42 as amended on first reading.

What happens next: benefits and the question of allowing elected officials to opt into or be excluded from the city benefits program will be considered separately on a future agenda, and the $70,000 figure will remain in effect for the clerk's term unless the council acts before the next filing period.

Quotation: "It's been 8 years since there's been an adjustment," Cassidy said. "I respectfully ask that this matter be considered in light of continuity, stability, and effective operation of the clerk, not just for me, but for the position."