HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/21/2023 6B POSTPONED INDEFINITELYAGENDA BILL
CITY OF BREMERTON
6B
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Study SessionDate: June 14, 2023
Ordinance No. 5478to adjust and set the COUNCIL MEETING Date: June 21, 2023
annual compensation for the Municipal Court
Department: MunicipalCourt
Judge
Presenter: Judge Tracy Flood
Phone: (360) 473-5242
SUMMARY:
The courthas been receiving trial court improvement funds since 2008.A municipality qualifies for
TCIA funds if the judge is serving in an elected position and is compensated at a rate equivalent to at
least ninety-five percent, but not more than one hundred percent of a District Court Judge(DCJ)
salary.
In the past the funds have been used to help offset the salary, the funds were also
used to help offset some of the costs when moving into the new court building in 2010. Recently
these funds wereused tohelp purchase new computers for the clerks office.
The
schedule for state officials for July 1, 2023,to June 30, 2024. As a result, the salary for the District
Court Judges starting on July 1, 2023,will be $206,988.RCW 43.03.012 mandates state judicial
salaries beset by the state salary commission;however the commission does not set the salary for
municipal court judges, that is set by the local municipality, ie the city council.
As part of the requirement to continue receivingthe trial court improvementfunds the city must pay at
Currently the
calculationthe 4% deferred comp,
which then equals the 95%.
Starting July 1,2023the court would propose two optionsto the city council for the municipal court
:
Current salary calculation: $176,423.64 + $7,350.98 = $183,774
Option A: Continue to use the formula that has beenused for the last 15 years.
91% DCJ salary + 4% deferred comp = 95% DCJ salary
$188,773.06 + $7,865.54 = $196,638.60
Option B: New formula would be a straight 95% of the DCJ salary.
95% DCJ salary w/out deferred comp
$196,638.60
Option C: New formula would be 95% DCJ salary + 4% deferred comp = 99% DCJ salary
95% of the DCJ salary plus 4% deferred comp = 99% DCJ salary
$196,638.60 + $7,865 = $204,503
The supporting authority that requires 95% district court salary is RCW 2.56.030(22).
Currently the court received $23,500 in trial court improvement funds for this last fiscal year.
nce. In 2015, this was discussed with
AOC but was never implemented by Bremerton Municipal Court and that was one of the
requirements for this funding.
At this time we are requesting that the council update the BMC ordinance to correctly reflect that the
compensation is to be set at 95% of asalary asset by the Washington
State Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
ATTACHMENTS:
RCW 43.03.012
RCW 2.56.030(22)
RCW 3.50.080
Email attachment from AOC regarding establishing ordinance
Salary Information from WCCSEO
Ordinance No. 5477(For Options A, B and C, the ordinance is the same except for the dollar amount
entered, however, for Option B,an additional ordinance will need to be drafted to remove deferred
compensation for the judge. The additional Option B ordinance is not included currently.)
FISCAL IMPACTS(Include Budgeted Amount):
The fiscal impact would be the court not receiving $23,500 a year from thetrial court improvement
program.
If the citywere to go with option A, the impact would be $12,865.
If the city proceeded with option B, the impact would be $20,215.
If the city proceeded with option C, the impact would be $28,080.
The courtwould propose using the trial court improvement funds to help offset this fiscal impact.
STUDY SESSION AGENDA: LimitedPresentation Full Presentation
STUDY SESSION ACTION:Consent Agenda General Business Public Hearing
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
District
+ 4% deferred comp equal to 95% of District court salary.
Option B: Move to set the annual compensation of the Municipal Court Judge at 95% of the District Court
not including the 4% deferred compensation.
Option C: Move to set the annualcompensation of the Municipal Court Judge at 95% of the District Court
exceeding 100%.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Deny Table Continue No Action