| Current Poll |
Are you for armed guards at schools?
View Results
|
|
Story Archives: Police Jury says pay raises 'unreasonable'
- 2013 - 290 articles
- 2012 - 856 articles
- 2011 - 635 articles
- 2010 - 1276 articles
- 2009 - 1591 articles
- 2008 - 1763 articles
|
Police Jury says pay raises 'unreasonable'
The Louisiana Attorney General's (AG) Office says judges in the Seventh Judicial District Court have the authority to require the Concordia Parish Police Jury to fund "reasonable salary increases" for two court reporters.
Now the Police Jury wants to know if those raises are "reasonable." Jurors voted during their regular meeting Monday night to determine what other parishes in North Louisiana pay their court reporters.
"We think all of this is unreasonable," Jury President Melvin Ferrington said. "Our budget can not handle this increase. We're not financially able to give raises."
The AG opinion, released September 15, noted that "the determination of whether a particular salary increase is reasonable is a factual determination our office cannot make; rather, it must be made by the police jury on a case by case basis."
In February, Judges Kathy Johnson and Leo Boothe directed the Jury to increase the salaries of two court reporters $385 each per month beginning March 1. The two employees were also to receive a $115 pay hike per month from the Catahoula Parish Police Jury.
Additionally, the Jury was ordered to provide the reporters a pay increase of three percent annually. Objecting, the Jury sought an AG opinion.
This year the raises are being paid out of the Jury's general fund and reimbursed by the criminal court fund, a move that Dist. Atty. Brad Burget said he implemented this year to keep the peace over the matter. Burget said the criminal court fund could support the raises in 2011 because of a surplus at the end of 2010.
He said he does not anticipate a surplus at the end of 2011.
When the new year begins the Jury will still be required to pay the additional costs out of its general fund but will no longer be reimbursed by the criminal court fund for the court reporter salaries.For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition! |
|
| Frank Morris Murder Series |
|
|
E-mail Story
Print Story
