Arkansas' citizens commission unanimously voted to raise the state's prosecuting attorneys' pay by 23 percent, following through on its previous recommendation.
Although opponents objected in writing to the increases, no one showed up to comment at the public hearing, and there was no discussion by the commission. The Wednesday meeting lasted four minutes.
The 25 full-time prosecutors will see their pay jump from $123,162 to $152,000. Three other prosecutors, who live in rural areas and are allowed to have limited civil practices, will earn $129,200 per year, up from $103,058.
The changes go into effect May 23.
After the meeting, Larry Ross, chairman of the Independent Citizens Commission, said he was a bit surprised that no one offered opinions, though the prosecuting attorneys made a compelling argument.
"I think that the prosecuting attorneys did a wonderful job of presenting their case," he said. "We had some persuasive, if you will, factual information about all of the details that they have to deal with. I think that was presented with specifics that answer a lot of questions."
Opponents did testify earlier this year when the commission proposed pay raises for other state elected officials, but their suggestions were rejected.
Larry Jegley, president of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association and prosecutor for Pulaski and Perry counties, said half of the prosecutors who left at the end of last year became circuit judges and more than 40 percent of all the circuit judges are former elected prosecutors or deputy prosecuting attorneys.
"That tells you something," he said. "With the salary and benefits that the circuit judges have, you know I personally and a lot of my colleagues feel as though there's not a significant enough difference in the salary levels now to make judgeship as attractive as it was just a few months ago."
In March, the salary commission boosted the annual salaries for the circuit judges from $140,372 to $160,000.
Jegley had argued that it's hard to keep prosecuting attorneys, who could earn more money as judges.
"Attracting people to run is one thing, but keeping them is another," Jegley said. "I'm very pleased, not only for myself, but certainly for my colleagues and future occupants of the office."
Current and former prosecuting attorneys argued for a pay increase in written comments to the commission, arguing that they do a vast amount of unseen work.
"No other court official is vested with as much absolute discretion in the criminal justice system as Prosecuting Attorneys -- the decisions of who to investigate, who to charge with crimes and even the decision whether to seek the ultimate punishment of death," wrote Chris Raff, who served as an elected prosecuting attorney for more than 30 years.
"The public deserves the best and most competent lawyers possible to advocate on behalf of the good people of this state, both in courtrooms as well as advising police and investigating agencies."
In written comments, some questioned the large jump in salaries, asking what average person would receive a 23 percent raise.
"It would be nice if the legislature were to have you set state [employees'] salaries," one person wrote. "I believe you would see their salaries are the ones that are falling behind."
Another asked if there were any avenues of protest.
"There will always be some naysayers out there, that's to be expected," Jegley said.
The commission was created under Amendment 94 to the Arkansas Constitution, which voters approved in November.
In March, the commission approved raises that set lawmakers' pay at $39,500 a year, from $15,869, and increased pay for the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore from $17,771 to $45,000 a year.
In return, lawmakers agreed to stop receiving up to $14,400 a year in reimbursements for certain office-related expenses.
In addition to their salaries, lawmakers on average have received at least $30,000 a year for per diem (a daily allowance for lodging, meals and incidentals), reimbursements and other expenses. Some lawmakers have collected more than $50,000 in these payments a year during the past several years.
The commission also has approved pay raises for the governor, from $87,759 to $141,000; attorney general, from $73,132 to $130,000; secretary of state, from $54,848 to $90,000; treasurer, from $54,848 to $85,000; auditor, from $54,848 to $85,000; land commissioner, from $54,848 to $85,000; chief justice, from $161,601 to $180,000; Supreme Court justices, from $149,589 to $166,500; Court of Appeals chief judge, from $147,286 to $164,000; Court of Appeals judges, from $144,982 to $161,500; and state district judges, from $125,495 to $140,000.
A Section on 05/14/2015