Marion County supervisors in their meeting last week discussed a potential pay raise for themselves, although a vote on the matter must wait until the new board takes office in January.
Mississippi Senate Bill 2827, which Gov. Phil Bryant signed earlier this year, provides supervisors statewide with a 3 percent raise beginning Jan. 1, 2020, but the board in each county must vote to accept it.
Pay for supervisors is determined by the appraised value of the county’s property, and in Marion County the current salary of $40,400 would go to $41,612 (an increase of $1,212).
The Mississippi Association of Supervisors had lobbied for a $10,000 raise for all county supervisors, arguing that they had not received a pay hike since 2003. However, the Legislature decided to set the increase at 3 percent.
Board Attorney Drew Foxworth said in an email he has discussed the matter with Charlie Prince, the county’s CPA, and other county board attorneys and they all believe the vote to increase the supervisors’ salaries cannot happen until after Jan. 1.
That’s because the legislation states “this act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2020,” with a couple of exceptions.
Some other parts of the bill took effect on July 1, including the chancery and circuit clerks statewide receiving a 5 percent increase from $90,000 to $94,500, which is paid from fees that their offices generate. Tax assessors also received a 5 percent increase, which takes the pay to $56,700 plus an additional $5,000 if serving in the dual position of tax assessor/collector.
Coroners also received an increase, allowing the minimum monthly pay of $100 to go to $300 and the maximum from $900 to $1,250. The exact amount is determined by the Board of Supervisors in each county. Death examinations increased from $125 to $175.
Constables’ fees have gone up to $45 per paper served.
Sheriffs’ salaries, which had been increased more recently than the other county officials, did not change in the bill. n
