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Commission to weigh options on circuit court raises; approves budget increase for office

A resolution for cash-strapped Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk employees will receive a side-by-side comparison with a yet-to-be-seen administration proposal next month.

Members of the Shelby County Commission voted 8-3 to send the matter back to committee at the close of the Monday, Oct. 28 meeting.

However, the proposal from Mayor Harris’ team was outlined before the close of the discussion. If approved, the resolution would give the county’s lowest paid employees an 11% raise. For reference, the lowest paid circuit court clerk staff members pull in $31,200 annually.

“It averages about 5%,” said Joyner. “But there’s some that would make more than that,” said Shelby County Circuit Court CAO Michael Joiner.

Further talks are slated for Nov. 13.

The alternative will be scrutinized alongside a resolution that seeks to give 28 members of the office’s staff raises. For the latter, the costs would be covered by a FY2024 surplus the circuit court accrued.

However, FY2025 projections have not kept pace. If the setback continues, the commission would be on the hook for the costs of the annual raises. It is sponsored by commissioner Erika Sugarmon, who requested the extra round of committee discussion.

A compromise has been in the works with members of the administration and the circuit court clerk’s office since the Oct. 23 Budget & Finance committee meeting. Commission chair Mark Whaley, who also chairs the committee, requested a proposal that gives additional pay to all under-compensated county employees.

“We are already getting emails from other clerks…,” said Sugarmon.

Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen scoffed at the proposal, saying it would amount to an extra $50 weekly, “not a salary increase.”

“I’d hope that Clerk Swearengen would consider these are ways to…make sure that the folks in your department get what they need, as well as all of those in Shelby County. Giving us an opportunity to compare the two does provide what we know are going to continue to be these conversations with different divisions and departments,” replied commissioner Shante Avant.

Prior to the discussion, members approved a amended resolution to provide $85,400 in additional funding to the clerk’s office. It will pay for sundry items and services, like office supplies, water and dry cleaning for judicial robes. The outlay includes $30,000 for advertising. The office’s FY2024 surplus will cover the costs.

The amended resolution tailors an original request for $107,904 that was trimmed, after a $22,000 payroll account was line item was discovered. It is also sponsored by Sugarmon.

“That should not even be calculated in the $107,000. So lets take that $22,000 off and we’re getting down to about 80-something thousand dollars…$80,000, which is true O and M,” said Collins.

Commissioners approved the item 8-3 on its second reading.

Voting in favor were Charlie Caswell, Edmond Ford, Jr. Britney Thornton, Henri Brooks, Mickell Lowery, Avant, Whaley and Sugarmon. Voting against the resolution were Mick Wright, David Bradford and Brandon Morrison.

Members also agreed to send a trio of ordinances that reform policies around youth detainment during the meeting. They include a request that the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office provides rehabilitative services to juveniles as they age into the adult criminal justice system.

All three items are also sponsored by Sugarmon.

“The purpose of this ordinance was for individuals where you have a blended sentence. For example, they’re a minor transferred to the adult criminal courts. The idea is the services will follow them,” said Sugarmon.

A companion ordinance is on the works. The ordinance was moved to the Dec. 11 meeting.

It was joined on the calendar by an ordinance that would ask the Shelby County Juvenile Court judge to provide written notification of expungement rights to juveniles and their caregivers.

Another would request legal representation and recordings of interrogations of minors by the Sheriff’s office. State law does not require recordings of youth suspects.

A community meeting will be scheduled between the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election and Thanksgiving. It will be held at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. The public forum will be announced by the commission when further details are fleshed out.

“I am waiting for the judges to check their calenders so we can have an open forum,” said Sugarmon.

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