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Circuit court clerk seeks to restore jobs and raise low pay; commissioners press for audit and policy consistency
Summary
Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearingen asked commissioners to reinstate four full-time positions, restore a $130,000 clerk position and add payroll funds for low-paid staff, proposing to use higher-than-expected collections. Commissioners and HR officials said the requests raise procedural and compensation-policy questions; the items were sent down for further review.
Jamita Swearingen, circuit court clerk, asked the Shelby County Commission on Oct. 9 to reinstate four classified full-time positions and restore a $130,000 principal courtroom clerk position cut from the FY2025 budget, and to add operating funds and payroll increases intended to raise low salaries for long-serving court staff.
Swearingen told the committee her office exceeded its FY24 revenue projection and "brought in 2,700,000"—about $1.3 million over prior estimates—and said she was asking to allocate a portion of that overage to fund the personnel and operational requests. "We brought in 1,300,000 more than we were projected to bring in," she said, describing steps the clerk's office had taken to increase collections, including contracting a collection agency.
The request prompted a lengthy exchange. Gerald Thornton, director of human resources, warned that unilateral pay increases would violate the county'wide compensation policy. "This would be a direct violation of our compensation policy," Thornton said. He explained that the county'approved compensation framework and a pending comprehensive market study govern eligible pay changes for classified (civil-service) positions and that ad-hoc raises for a single office would create a ripple effect across departments.
Clerk Swearingen and supporters framed the request as a retention and equity measure. Swearingen said many longtime clerks still earn modest wages and recounted staff hardship stories at the committee microphone. "These jobs are not sustaining financially," she said, asking the commission to allow the office to use additional revenue it had generated to avoid losing experienced employees to other public employers.
Commissioners pressed finance and HR for specifics and asked administration staff to verify whether the clerk's FY24 overage was available to cover the proposed increases without breaching permanent-rule requirements for submitted items. Director of Budget Michael Thompson agreed to analyze receipts and early FY25 trends and report back: if the clerk's collections continue to track above budgeted levels, Thompson said, he could be "comfortable" with an amendment to shift funds. Meanwhile, the committee moved the items down the agenda for Monday with instructions for finance to return with the verification.
What happens next: The committee sent the budget amendments for items 5'8 to the full commission agenda without a recommendation, asking finance to confirm the clerk's revenue overage and the budget impact before a final vote. Commissioners said they wanted to balance adherence to the county'wide compensation policy with an urgent need to shore up low-paid, front-line workers; HR urged patience pending the compensation study, while some commissioners pressed for immediate action to avoid further staff losses.
Speakers (first reference): Jamita Swearingen, Circuit Court Clerk (SEG 3443). Gerald Thornton, Director of Human Resources (SEG 4239). Michael Burnett Joyner, Circuit Court administrative staff (SEG 3876). Commissioner Mark Ford (SEG 230).
Authorities: none cited in committee at the hearing.
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