Knox County’s highest-paid elected official will soon make more than $228,000 a year after the county board approved a state-mandated pay raise for the state’s attorney.
The board also approved raises for the chief public defender and the sheriff, which are required to be set at 90% and 80% of the state’s attorney’s pay under state statute.
Board Chair Jared Hawkinson, R-District 4, said the state pays two-thirds of those salaries.
“These three are part of the statutorily required increases from the state,” Hawkinson said. “We’re just agreeing to uphold our third of the payment.”
Hawkinson said the county is responsible for employee benefits for those positions, as well as additional pension liability.
Beginning July 1, the state’s attorney’s salary will increase from $219,326 to $228,318. The public defender’s salary will go from $197,393 to $205,486, and the sheriff’s salary will go from $175,461 to $182,654.
That's an increase of nearly 16% from 2023, when the state's attorney's salary was set at $197,436.
While the raises are mandated by the state, some board members voted against them. The vote was 11 to 3. Voting no were Patty Boone, R-District 5; Pam Davidson, D-District 3, and Cheryl Nache, D-District 2.
Last month, the board approved pay increases for the clerk, circuit clerk, and treasurer, effective Dec.1, in anticipation of legislation that would mandate those salaries are also set at 80% of the state’s attorney’s pay.
However, that legislation did not advance in the spring session. It would require the state to pay two-thirds of those salaries as well, although the county currently pays for 100% of those salaries.
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