Computing County Official Salaries for 2017 Is Now Available

ACCG Salary Guide. Each year, ACCG prepares a guide to assist county budget officials and payroll officials in calculating county official salaries in accordance with Georgia law. The Computing County Official Salaries for 2017 is now available. The salary guide includes information on salaries for county commissioners, coroners, magistrates, probate judges, sheriffs, superior court clerks, and tax commissioners. It addresses compensation, per diems and supplements required or authorized for bailiffs, board of tax assessors, board of equalization, circuit public defenders, jurors, juvenile court judges, state court judges, solicitors, superior court judges and voter registrars. This guide has been reviewed and approved by the County Officer Association of Georgia, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Magistrate Council.

As budgets are being prepared for 2017, county budget officers trying to calculate 2017 salaries for county elected officials and appointed magistrate judges should be aware of some of the increases in salaries that will happen on January 1, 2017. Any questions regarding the application of the information in this guide to a particular county or county official should be directed at the county attorney.

Population Changes. Each year, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) publishes updated population estimates for each county. Counties must use the most recent population numbers to calculate salaries for the sheriff, superior court clerk, tax commissioner, probate judge and magistrate judge. In some cases, the new population estimate could result in a higher base salary for these officers.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). The cost of living increase for county officials whose minimum salary is established by state law (i.e., coroner, magistrate, probate judge, sheriff, superior court clerk, and tax commissioner) and for county commissioners is calculated based upon the amount of cost of living increases and/or general performance increases awarded to state employees. Once the General Assembly passes the appropriations bill and it is signed by the Governor, the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) calculates the average cost of living increases and/or general performance increase given to state employees. State employees received a 3% merit increase for high performing employees, which translates into a 3% COLA for county elected officials. Although state employee may receive their increase on July 1, 2016, the COLA for county officials is not effective until January 1, 2017.

Longevity Increases.

County Elected Official and Appointed Magistrate Salaries Generally. In general, the General Assembly sets the salaries of commissioners (except those who use their home rule authority), coroners, magistrate judges, probate judges, sheriffs, superior court judges and tax commissioners either by state law or through local legislation. For most county elected officials, there is a base salary based upon population to which state mandated supplements are added if the official performs additional duties established in law. Depending upon the number of terms completed, a county official may receive a longevity increase – typically, a 5% longevity increase for each term served up to a maximum specified in law. If the General Assembly approves a cost of living adjustment (COLA), then the salary is increased by the amount of the COLA (and all COLAs given in the years since the base salary was last adjusted).

Regular Longevity Increase. When putting together the 2017 budget, county budget officials should be aware that commissioners, coroners, magistrate judges, probate judges, sheriffs, superior court clerks, and tax commissioners who complete a full term and are re-elected this year will be entitled to an additional 5% longevity increase in salary – as long as they have not reached the longevity cap (see below).

Automatic Increase in the Longevity Cap for Long Serving County Officials. Long serving county elected officials and appointed magistrates are subject to a cap on the total number of 5% longevity increases that they can receive – regardless of how many terms they serve. However, every two to six years, the cap is automatically increased. Effective January 1, 2017, the following county officials will be entitled to an increase in total longevity if they have served the appropriate number of terms and are re-elected:

County Commissioners. Commissioners who are elected to serve two year terms that complete six or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 7.5% (previously, 6.25%). Commissioners who are elected to four or six year terms have a different longevity formula and schedule. They will not be entitled to a longevity cap increase until January 1, 2019.

Magistrates. Magistrate judges who complete six or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 30% (previously 25%). Probate judges serving as magistrate judges who complete five or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 25% (previously 20%) on their supplement for serving as magistrate judge.

Probate Judges. Probate judges who complete ten or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 50% (previously 45%).

Probate judges who serve as magistrate judges and complete five or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 25% (previously 20%) on their supplement for serving as magistrate judge.

Sheriffs. Sheriffs who complete ten or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 50% (previously 45%).

Superior Court Clerks. Superior court clerks who complete ten or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 50% (previously 45%).

Tax Commissioners. Tax commissioners who complete ten or more terms on December 31, 2016 will be entitled to a maximum longevity increase of 50% (previously 45%).

Future Longevity Increases. Coroners will not be eligible for an increase in maximum longevity until January 1, 2018. Commissioners who are elected to four or six year terms will not be eligible for an increase in maximum longevity until January 1, 2019. The officials listed above receiving the 2017 increase will be eligible for another increase in the maximum longevity on January 1, 2021.

O.C.G.A. § 15-16-20(a)(1).

O.C.G.A. § 15-6-88(a).

O.C.G.A. § 48-5-183(b)(1).

O.C.G.A. § 15-9-63(a)(1).

O.C.G.A. § 15-10-23(a)(2).

See, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-4.1.

State law allows for an increase to longevity for each full term completed after a "starting date" specified in law. Each county elected office has its own "starting date" to calculate longevity, ranging from 1977 to 2004. This allows the maximum longevity to be automatically increased every four years – except for commissioners elected to two year terms (who have their maximum longevity increased every two years) and commissioners elected to six year terms (who have their maximum longevity increased every six years). Each office has a maximum number of terms completed since the starting date that can be used to calculate longevity.

O.C.G.A. § 36-5-29.

O.C.G.A. § 15-10-23(b).

O.C.G.A. § 15-9-63.1(c).

O.C.G.A. § 15-9-65.

O.C.G.A. § 15-9-63.1(c).

O.C.G.A. § 15-16-20(b).

O.C.G.A. § 15-6-90(a).

O.C.G.A. § 48-5-183(b).

O.C.G.A. § 45-16-11(b).

O.C.G.A. § 36-5-29.

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