TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Interim City Manager
FROM: Michele Bennett, Human Resources Assistant Director
SUBJECT:
title
Municipal Judicial Compensation.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance.
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SUMMARY:
summary
Human Resources recommends a 5% salary increase for the Judges Pro Tempore. The compensation for Municipal Judge and Judges Pro Tempore is reviewed biennially by the Judicial Compensation Review Commission (Commission), however, due to member vacancies, the Commission has not been convened. Human Resources is advancing this recommendation in order to fulfill the biennial review and ensure compensation remains within market per the City’s Compensation Philosophy.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council approve a 5% salary increase for the Judges Pro Tempore effective October 27, 2025?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve a 5% salary increase for the Judges Pro Tempore effective October 27, 2025.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
In 2008, Council enacted SRC4.035, establishing the Judicial Compensation Review Commission comprised of three members consisting of the City Manager or designee, one Attorney in good standing with Marion and Polk County Bar Association, and one resident. The Commission meets biennially and is charged with making recommendations for judicial compensation. In 2023, based on the Commission’s recommendations, Council approved that the Municipal Judge to receive the same cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) as other non-represented classifications, should such an adjustment occur. The Judges Pro Tempore are hourly, work variable, part-time hours, and receive no other compensable benefits, and do not receive the COLA.
A meeting of the Commission was anticipated to be held in April 2025, but due to recent member resignations, the meeting was not convened. Recruitment for qualified applicants for the Commission began right away and has been ongoing in the search to fill the two vacant positions.
A market salary survey was conducted during this time for the Municipal Judge and Judges Pro Tempore. The City’s compensation philosophy aims for maintaining compensation within +/- 5% for comparable positions in the labor market. Analysis of the current compensation rates found that while the Municipal Judge hourly rate is behind market, when factoring in total compensation benefits, current compensation is within the compensation tolerance. Since the Municipal Judge received the same COLA as non-represented received July 1, 2025 (5%), Human Resources does not recommend a change in compensation until such time the Commission is convened in the future.
Analysis of the Judge Pro Tempore current rate found it to be more than 10% behind market to comparators. The Judge Pro Tems are paid an hourly wage of $79.00, with no additional benefits or COLA. The hourly wage was last increased by the Commission in 2020. A 5% increase changes the rate to $82.95 per hour and brings it within the +/-5% to market.
In accordance with SRC 4.035(c), the Commission is anticipated to review the Municipal Judge and Judges Pro Tempore compensation next in 2027, however since the Commission has not met during 2025, the review date may need to change to 2026, once the Commission is staffed. Additionally, due to the absence of a Commission at this time, City staff may recommend a future ordinance to amend SRC 4.035 to permit judicial compensation changes, such as COLA or increase for market adjustments as conducted for other city staff, in the event it is not possible to convene the Judicial Compensation Review Commission.
Attachments:
1. None