June 20, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
County public officials here and across the state are getting a pay raise this year.
Compensation for most county officials is governed by T.C.A. § 8-24-102, which establishes the minimum compensation for assessors of property, county clerks, clerks of court, trustees, registers of deeds, county mayors, sheriffs, and highway officials. This law provides for an automatic increase in the minimum salary each year based on the percentage increase given to state employees for the previous fiscal year. It requires the commissioner of finance and administration to certify to the comptroller of the treasury the average annualized increase in state employees’ compensation on or before May 1 of each year.
The salaries of the county officials are partly based on the population class of the county and the office. Not all office holders earn the same amount of pay. DeKalb County falls within the 12,000 – 22,999 population class. Although salaries of county public officials are established by the state, the county funds them.
The new salary schedule as set by the state and according to the proposed 2024-25 budget for DeKalb County effective July 1 is as follows:
•General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge: $123,514 per year (up from $117,519 in 2023-24)
•County Mayor: $105,396 per year (up from $100,157 in 2023-24)
•Road Supervisor: $100,377 per year (up from $95,388 in 2023-24)
•Sheriff: $100,377 per year (up from $95,388 in 2023-24)
•Trustee: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•County Clerk: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•Circuit Court Clerk: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•Clerk and Master: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•Register of Deeds: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•Assessor of Property: $91,252 per year (up from $86,716 in 2023-24)
•Administrator of Elections: $82,127 per year (up from $78,044 in 2023-24)
The Director of Schools is appointed by, and his salary is established under contract with the Board of Education. However, the salary for the position is funded in the county budget the same as the county officials listed above.
According to the 2024-25 budget, the salary for the Director of Schools is to be $109,000, up from $105,000 budgeted in 2023-24
https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/reference/salary-schedules
The County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) prepares a salary schedule each year showing the minimum compensation for each official according to the statutory formulas, by population classification. The amounts in the CTAS salary schedule are based on the assumption that all officials receive the minimum compensation. The minimum salaries of some officials may be higher in a particular county if any officials are paid in excess of the statutory minimum. The county legislative body may set the salary of county officials in an amount greater than the minimum salary.
NOTE: The annualized general increase tied to the increase in state employees’ compensation shall not exceed five percent (5%) in any given year per T.C.A. § 8-24-102(d).
The certification provision and other requirements are contained in T.C.A. § 8-24-102(d) as follows:
On July 1, 2002, and each July thereafter, the minimum compensation for county officials, as provided by this section, shall be increased by a dollar amount equal to the average annualized general increase in state employees’ compensation, including the equivalent percentage increase in average state employees’ salaries represented by appropriated funds made available to address classification compensation issues, during the prior fiscal year multiplied by the compensation established herein for the county officials of the county with the median population of all counties; provided, however, that the annualized general increase tied to the increase in state employees’ compensation shall not exceed five percent (5%) in any given year. Provided further, notwithstanding the dollar amount provided herein, the percentage increase provided for county officials by this subsection shall not be less than the percentage increase established for county officials of the county with the median population of all counties. On or before May 1 of each year, the commissioner of finance and administration shall certify to the comptroller of the treasury the average annualized general increase in state employee’s compensation during that fiscal year.
“Average annualized general increase in state employee’s compensation” means the average percentage increase in base salaries for state employees, plus the equivalent percentage increase in average state employees’ salaries represented by recurring appropriation amounts provided to improve the level of retirement benefits, longevity benefits, and deferred compensation benefits or other similar benefits that are made available to state employees, not including health insurance benefits.
MAYORS/EXECUTIVES. The county mayor’s compensation shall be at least 5 percent higher than the salary paid to any other county constitutional officer (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(e)). The salaries noted above are based upon the assumption that the general officers and the sheriff receive the statutory minimum amount. Therefore, the minimum salary of the county mayor in a particular county may be higher than the amounts listed above if other officials are paid in excess of the statutory minimum. For example, if the sheriff is paid more than the minimum amount the mayor must be paid at least 5 percent more than the sheriff’s actual salary.
HIGHWAY OFFICIALS. The compensation of the chief administrative officer of the county highway department shall be at least 10 percent higher than the salary paid to the general officers of the county (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(g)). The salaries noted above are based upon the assumption that the general officers receive the statutory minimum amount. Therefore, the minimum salary of the chief administrative officer in a particular county may be higher than the amounts listed above if county general officials are paid in excess of the statutory minimum. The County Uniform Highway Law does not apply to Shelby, Davidson, Knox, or Hamilton Counties.
SHERIFFS. The compensation of the sheriff shall be at least 10 percent higher than the salary paid to the general officers of the county (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(g)). The salaries noted above are based upon the assumption that the general officers receive the statutory minimum amount. Therefore, the minimum salary of the sheriff in a particular county may be higher than the amounts listed above if the county general officials are paid in excess of the statutory minimum. Sheriffs may receive additional compensation set by the county legislative body for ex-officio services as workhouse superintendent (T.C.A. § 8-24-103(a)(3); 8-24-111).
CLERKS OF COURT. Clerks of court that serve more than one court may, at the discretion of the county legislative body, be paid additional compensation in the amount of ten percent of the clerk’s base compensation. Increases paid to court clerks under this provision will result in an increase in the minimum salary for the sheriff, highway superintendent, and county mayor. (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(j)(2)).
ASSESSORS OF PROPERTY. The minimum salary of the assessor of property is equal to the minimum salary paid to general officers of the county (T.C.A. § 8-24-102). If the general officers of the county are paid an amount in excess of the minimum, the assessor will also receive at least that much. Also, the county legislative body may provide additional salary for the assessor pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-1-508(b) and (c). See T.C.A. § 8-24-102(h).
ADMINISTRATORS OF ELECTIONS. These figures are minimum salaries for certified administrators of elections in counties where the election commission office is open five full days a week. The figures represent ninety percent (90%) of the base salary of the assessor of property for counties falling within these population classifications (T.C.A. § 2-12- 208). The county legislative body may provide additional salary for certified administrators of elections in excess of these amounts (T.C.A. § 2-12-208(b)).
GENERAL SESSIONS COURT JUDGES. Salaries of general sessions court judges are to be increased annually in the same manner as state court judges, which is the actual percentage change in the consumer price index between the previous two calendar years (T.C.A. §§ 16-15-5003 and 8-23-103). CTAS does not prepare salary schedules for general sessions court judges because the salaries in each county are based on the private acts and general laws that apply in each particular county and on salary calculations made by the Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to T.C.A. § 16-15-5003(i)(7).