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Talbot County council to ask delegation for authority to set state's attorney pay; support letter approved
Summary
The council voted to forward a letter to the county’s state legislative delegation seeking support for legislation that would allow the county council to set the state's attorney salary (Joe Cole asked for 100% of the district court judge’s pay for FY28); roll call showed four Aye, one Nay.
Joe Cole, the county’s state’s attorney, asked the Talbot County Council to support legislation or a delegation that would allow the council to set the county state's attorney salary and said he is seeking pay set at 100% of a district court judge’s salary for fiscal year 2028. Cole told the council he believes Talbot’s state's attorney pay is among the lowest in Maryland’s comparable jurisdictions and said low pay threatens hiring and retention.
Council members asked for comparables and timing. Cole said some neighboring counties tie the state's attorney salary to the judges’ pay and that a legislative change is needed because the state constitution prevents the legislature from raising an elected official’s pay during the incumbent’s term. He told the council he is planning ahead for his next term and therefore asked now for action for FY28.
After discussion, Councilmember Stepp moved and a colleague seconded a motion to forward a letter to the county’s delegation seeking support for legislation to (a) set the state's attorney salary at parity with the district court judge (the 100% request Cole described) or (b) to delegate authority to the county council to set the salary through the local budget process. The roll call recorded Lesher, Stepp, Milke and Callahan voting Aye and Miss Heath voting Nay; the motion carried.
The council indicated it may also consider setting salary levels as part of its regular budget process if delegation is provided. Cole said any approved increase would be effective in the proposed fiscal year 2028 and that he would accept the council framing of the request if the delegation values council input. The council did not approve a specific dollar amount beyond the request for parity with the district court judge’s salary; it approved forwarding the requested support letter to the local delegation for consideration.
What happens next: the letter will be forwarded to the county’s state legislative delegation for possible introduction of enabling legislation or for consideration of an approach that would allow the council to set the salary during its budget process.
