The Coolidge examiner., 1945-01-12
PinaI Officials
Get Pay Raise
In 1st Class
Automatic increase becomes
effective January 1st =
county became 1st class
during 1914; higher rates
in offing if supreme court
upholds new salary law.

Nearly all Pinal county officials
viii receive pay raises effective
with January 18th payrolls accord
ing to M. G. Mann. clerk of the
board OF supervisors. The raises
will be accorded only to elective
officials who began new terms OF
office January 1st with the excep-
ton of superintendent of schools
and members of the board of super
visors.
These raises are effective be-
cause. during 1914. Pinal county
once again became list class
county" and have nothing to do
with the raises granted by the
state legislature under an act
which has recently been attacked
in the courts and is now pending
before the supreme court of the
state.
The salary increases will go to
the county assessor with an in
crease from $4,000 to $27O0; county
attorney. s25Oe to $4,000: treasurer,
from S2400 to $4,000; recorder, from
$4,000 to $2700; sheriff, from $4,000
to $4,000.
However, under the terms of the
new salary act which was upheld
in the superior court of Maricopa
county and Is now on appeal to the
supreme court the county assessor
would receive $4,000; attorney,
$4,000; treasurer. $4,000; recorder,
$4,000; sheriff. $4,000; school super
intendent from the present $2400
to $4,000; clerk of the superior
court. $4,000; chairman of the board
of supervisors from $500 to $500
and members of the board of su-
pervisors from $1,000 to $500.
Legislators during the last ses-
sion. recognizing the disparity be-
tween 1912 and present day costs
of living, amended the law to pro-
vide niger salaries. Constitution
ality of the enactment was chal-
lenged in the courts and Pinal
county attorney, Tom Fullbright.
was one of the county attorneys
selected to aid in reaching su-
preme court-proof decision. Several
finely drawn points in law were
introduced at the trial, rulings up
on which may affect and will GER
tainly be observed, by courts and
lawyers throughout the nation.
Under the state law, now amGnd-
ed. Arizona counties are classified
under four subdivisions: "1st. End,
3rd and 4th class" These designa-
tions bear no reference to scenic
or social ratings, but result from
assessed valuations, determined by
tax assessors reports. All elected
public officials and their chief de-
puties are considered in the bill,
their salaries being determined by
the classification under which the
county falls.
Until the depression" Pinal
county tax assessors records rated
Pinal "1st class" Lowered reve-
nues and valuations of properties
during that period automatically
dropped the county to "2nd class"
and public officials salaries were
likewise reduced. Salary reduc-
ton in such cases amounts to ap-
proximately 20 per cent, causing a
loss of about $500 per year to an
official whose salary is $4,000 Re-
classification upwards means
corresponding increase in salary.
During 1914. Pinal county valua-
tions rose to a point where 1t again
becomes "1st Glass;" with conse-
Quent raise in salary to all officials
falling under the state enactment.
Judges and clerks of the superior
court. whose term of office does
not coincide with the calendar year
provisions of the new law. will not
be benefited, 1t was explained by
Attorney Fullbright. Officers whose
terms and salaries began or con-
tinued with the new year. January
LIST. will receive additions to their
paychecks in such counties as have
been advised by their attorneys TO
"go-ahead" pending final decision
by the supreme court.