County approves increase supplement to circuit judges

Published 10:49 pm Friday, September 25, 2015

The Decatur County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an increase of supplements to the Superior Court judges in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit at their meeting Tuesday.

The Circuit requested Decatur County up their supplement from $6,930 to $9,200, per judge, totaling $18,400 a year.

According to a letter submitted by Circuit Chief Judge A. Wallace Cato and Superior Court Judge J. Kevin Chason, requests have been made to the five counties that comprise the South Georgia Judicial Circuit.

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“In years past, the percentage of each county’s part has generally been determined according to the population of that county, and our request of each county is generally based on that premise,” the letter reads. “Decatur County has 32 percent of the population in our five county circuit. The last time Decatur County approved an increase in the judges’ supplement was in 2005.”

The letter states Mitchell County has approved the Circuit’s request of $7,900 and is already funding it. Grady County has approved it effective Jan. 1. The request has also been presented to Baker County, and the circuit will be making the request to Calhoun County shortly.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Dennis Brinson asked if this was a state mandate, which county administrator Alan Thomas said it was not.