Salaries of the top judicial officials in Bartholomew County and the county sheriff are receiving 2 percent raises in actions that are connected.
The salaries of Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash, Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin, Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton and Superior Court 2 Judge Kathleen “Kitty” Tighe Coriden will all increase to $144,137 annually.
Indiana lawmakers approved raises this year, effective July 1, for executive-level employees that has included elected prosecutors and judges since April 2011.
Until recently, judges and prosecutors also received a $5,000 annual stipend from the county, but the Bartholomew County Council began phasing out that benefit for newly elected judicial officials. Only Nash, who has been in office since 2003, currently receives an annual stipend from the county, County Auditor Barb Hackman said.
Since the salaries of Bartholomew County Superior Court 2 Magistrate Joe Meek and Juvenile Magistrate Heather Mollo are also governed by state statutes, both will also be given raises, Indiana Supreme Court spokeswoman Sarah Kidwell said.
Adult court magistrates are paid 80 percent of a judge’s salary, which means Meek will be receiving $115,310, Kidwell said.
Juveniles magistrates are paid the same amount, but $41,393 of Mollo’s salary will be paid by the county while $73,917 comes from the state, Kidwell said.
Sheriff Matt Myers’ salary — also by state law — must be 80 percent of what the prosecutor and judges make, so he will also earn $115,310, which is fully paid by the county. That’s up from $113,049.
Myers is not entitled to receive the same longevity pay and retirement benefits his deputies receive, the auditor said.
