[01/18/01] While a budget crunch looms over the heads of state lawmakers, a bill pending before the House could give some county elected officials a 15 percent pay raise.

Locally, that would mean an increase of about $87,000 per year in payroll out of the $28 million budget for Warren County.

Some county elected officials are paid on a scale based on population or the assessed value of property in the county. That scale is set by the Legislature but funded by local taxes. Others are paid from fees collected in operation of their offices.

Sen. Mike Chaney, R-Vicksburg, said he would have a hard time supporting raises for local officials when the state is cutting allocations to schools and other local programs.

“It might be justified in some of the county officials’ minds, but we’re facing a serious shortfall in money,” Chaney said. “I think most of the county officials are off base to even ask for it right now.”

Warren County is at the top of the pay scale for local officials based on assessed values. With real and personal property totaling about $304 million, salaries for supervisors, tax assessor and tax collector are in the highest state bracket.

Pay for justice court judges and sheriff are based on population. With a population of about 49,000, based on the 1990 census, Warren County is near the middle of the state scale.

Pay for county court judges and prosecutors is set up under special legislation. The county prosecutor’s pay in Warren County is equal to supervisors’ wages, while the county court judge’s is based on circuit court judges’ scale and would not be affected under the bill being considered this year.

Compensation for chancery and circuit clerks is based on fees collected by the office. The fees are capped by the Legislature.

Rep. Chester Masterson, R-Vicksburg, said it has been three years since the Legislature passed a pay raise for county officials and that the local employees are due.

“They haven’t had a raise in years,” he said. “This will give them a 15 percent raise, and I’ll support that.”

Masterson was elected to his first term as a representative in 1999 and is serving his second year in the house.

Local officials who would be effected by the proposed pay raises are Sheriff Martin Pace; Tax Assessor Richard Holland; Tax Collector Pat Simrall; County Prosecutor Johnny Price; Justice Court Judges Richard Bradford III, Richard Smith and Joe Crevitt, and the five Warren County Supervisors.

District 5 Supervisor and board president Richard George said that with projected revenue falling off for the state, this could be the wrong year to look to give local raises.

“If growth will not produce an offset, then it should not happen,” George said.

Salaries for county supervisors would go from $37,343 per year to $42,945 under the proposed increases.

George said raises for local officials should be planned for well in advance and start at the beginning of the four-year term. The bill would make the raises effective at the beginning of the new fiscal year, in October.

“We are well aware of the salaries when we run for office,” he said. “And it should be good enough.”

George served his first term on the board beginning in 1992 and was elected to a second term in 1999 after sitting out four years.

Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, echoed the concerns of Chaney and George. He said he would not support the bill until after legislators have addressed this year’s budget concerns.

“I think its premature to be talking about raises when we’re in the middle of some of the most devastating budget cuts in the history of the state,” he said.

Flaggs is a senior member of the House with 13 years representing Warren County and is on the House Appropriations and Legislative Budget committees.

The bill was introduced Jan. 12 by Rep. David L. Green, D-Gloster, and was co-authored by Rep. Randy Pierce, D-Leakesville, and Rep. Percy Maples, R-Lucedale.

Separately, Sen. Lynn Posey, D-Union Church, has sponsored a bill that would authorize the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors to pay an annual supplement of $10,000 to the sheriff.

With a population of about 11,000, Claiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis is currently paid $47,000 annually. Alcorn State University and Grand Gulf Nuclear Generating Plant are also in the county.

Similar supplements to the sheriff’s salary are authorized in Leflore, Rankin, Neshoba, Tunica, Hinds, Wilkinson, Marshall and Greene counties.

Rep. Chuck Middleton, D-Port Gibson, has filed a similar bill in the House.