AGENDA DATE: 2/10/2016
TITLE:
Title
Salary Supplement for Commonwealth’s Attorney Position
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Consideration of the request to authorize a local salary supplement for the Commonwealth’s Attorney
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Letteri, Davis
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND:
The General Assembly in the adopted State Budget sets the salary for each constitutional officer based on the locality’s population. Virginia Code § 15.2-1605.1 enables localities to supplement these salaries using local funds. Many localities supplement the salary of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to reflect a market salary for that jurisdiction. The County has provided such a supplement to the prior two Commonwealth’s Attorneys. The amount of the supplement was adjusted annually to reflect percentage salary increases approved by the Board for County staff.
The Board can approve supplements for the individual holding the office or for the position. Because the supplement for the previous Commonwealth’s Attorney was approved for the individual holding the office, Board action is required to authorize the supplement for the newly elected Commonwealth’s Attorney.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 7. Operational Capacity: Ensure County government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION:
Robert Tracci was elected as the County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney effective January 1, 2016. On January 20, 2016, after consultation with County Executive Office staff, Mr. Tracci submitted the attached letter (Attachment A) requesting that the Board continue the County’s existing supplement to the Commonwealth’s Attorney retroactive to January 1, 2016.
The prior Commonwealth’s Attorney received the base salary set by the State, an additional $6,888.70 of local funds required to hold harmless the 2012 VRS mandate that the Commonwealth’s Attorney pay the VRS contribution, and a $13,062.45 local supplement. To maintain the same salary for the new Commonwealth’s Attorney would require a local supplement in the amount of $19,951.15, the total of the locally funded VRS hold harmless contribution mandated for the prior Commonwealth’s Attorney and the amount of the prior supplement.
BUDGET IMPACT: The request is to maintain the salary amount for the Commonwealth’s Attorney approved in the County’s FY 2015-16 Budget for the Commonwealth’s Attorney. There will be no additional budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment B) to authorize a local supplement for the Commonwealth’s Attorney in the amount of $19,951.15 effective January 1, 2016. Staff further recommends that the supplement be authorized for the position rather than for the individual so that future salary adjustments can be based on market surveys for similar positions.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Robert Tracci’s January 20, 2016 letter to the Board
B - Resolution