Clerk’s office asks for added operating funds and staff; commission debates equity and compensation policy

Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearingen and clerk’s office staff told the Budget & Finance committee that understaffing and rising workloads have stretched employees thin and that two budget amendments are needed to maintain operations and fill critical positions.

Swearingen said $107,904 is needed to cover operational shortfalls (training, supplies, hospitality for judges, robe cleaning) and that a separate $215,693 payroll request would fund 28 FTEs and one temporary employee. Judge Cedric Wooten and several clerks described heavy workloads—one staffer said she had processed over 10,000 e‑filings in roughly a year—and argued pay levels make retention difficult.

Human Resources Director Gerald Thornton and Budget Director Michael Thompson cautioned that the clerk’s office year‑to‑date revenue is lagging FY24 results and that vacancy savings and internal reallocation are limited; Thornton warned that ad hoc raises for one elected office could open parity and compression issues across county offices and said administration would propose a county‑wide approach for lower‑wage bands.

The committee ultimately moved the payroll and operational requests to the Monday commission agenda without recommendation to allow time for additional fiscal analysis and for HR’s broader compensation proposal to be circulated.

What’s next: The administration said it will circulate a proposal to address low‑wage bands county‑wide and the clerk’s requests will be revisited at the full commission meeting.