Commissioners OK salary supplement increase for judges

Published 1:57 pm Wednesday, February 28, 2018

THOMASVILLE — Thomas County commissioners Tuesday approved an increase in salary supplements for Southern Judicial Circuit Superior Court judges.

Earlier this month, commissioners tabled the request to bring judges to statewide average compensation.

The resolution unanimously approved Tuesday calls for each judge’s salary supplement to be increased from $5,000 to $8,000 annually, beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

The document also states retired judges will receive 74.6 percent of the county supplement paid to active judges, and surviving spouses will receive 33.3 percent of the county supplement paid to the deceased spouse.

In 2016, the average yearly supplement for a Superior Court judge in Georgia was $40,163. In 2016, for judges in the Southern Judicial Circuit, the annual supplement was $25,000, according to information provided to Thomas County commissioners.

Thomas County, which has 20 percent of the judicial circuit’s population, now pays $416.67 per month per judge. In the proposal, the monthly amount would increase to $666.67 per judge.

The request would raise compensation for each judge by $15,000 a year, according to the earlier proposal. The supplement is spread among the circuit’s five counties.

The state pays the bulk of Superior County judges’ salaries.

Commission Chairman Wiley Grady said the request would cost Thomas County $21,479 annually.

The document requires signatures of all county commissioners and Georgia Legislature approval.

In other business, commissioners reappointed Heidi Drawdy, Gerald Bloodworth, H. Wayne Dodson and Thomas County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chuck McDonald to the animal control board.

Commissioners said they will consider giving a surplus county car and truck to the City of Pavo. Pavo Mayor Marvin Bryan wrote commissioners asking to be considered for receipt of vehicles.

Commissioners voted unanimously to close a portion of Stephens Road after receiving a petition requesting the closure.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820