Cuts could force pay reduction

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November 21, 2009

By JOHN CANNON — The Independent The Daily Independent Sat Nov 21, 2009, 11:09 PM EST

Ashland — If state funding for his office is cut by another 6 percent, Boyd County Commonwealth’s Attorney David Justice said he will have little choice but to reduce the salaries of his employees.

“I don’t want to do that because these are good, dedicated employees, some of whom have been in this office for many years,” said Justice. “They deserve more pay, not less, and if I have to cut their pay, I may lose them.”

The other option would be to eliminate one or more positions, Justice said, but “we are at the point where this office simply can’t do its job with fewer people.”

In Kentucky, the offices of Commonwealth’s Attorney — the state’s chief criminal prosecutors — are funded by the state. Justice said each commonwealth’s attorney has a fair amount of leeway in deciding how to allocate the state funds his or her office receives each fiscal year.

Because of a projected $161 million revenue shortfall in the budget for the current fiscal year which ends June 30, State Budget Director Mary Lassiter has warned state agencies to expect additional cuts of 6 percent in their current budgets.

Attorney General Jack Conway said a 6 percent cut could force discontinuation of grants to local prosecutors for victim’s advocates, but Justice said his office’s victim’s advocate — Kathy Johnson — is not funded through a grant from Conway’s office, and he has no intention of eliminating the position.

“I think the victim’s advocate is one of the most important people we have in this office,” Justice said. “She is the person who works closest with the victims of crimes and keeps them informed about the prosecution of those responsible for the crimes against them.”

The victim’s advocate is considered a part-time position, but Justice said Johnson works 4 1/2 days a week. “She’s here every day,” he said of Johnson. “To me, it’s like a fulltime position, but the pay is part-time.”

Earlier budget cuts forced Justice to eliminate his office’s detective, a position he promised to re-establish during his successful campaign to unseat former Commonwealth’s Attorney J. Stewart Schneider. Without the detective, Justice said he has had to rely on local police agencies in gathering more evidence to strengthen the cases against some suspects.

The Boyd County Fiscal Court helped ease the impact of an earlier budget cut through a one-time $5,400 allocation to the commonwealth’s attorneys office, but the fiscal court rejected Justice’s request for additional funds.

“I fully understand that decision,” Justice said. “This is a state office funded by the state budget. They county has no obligation to fund it, and I greatly appreciate the help the county was willing to give us. But I recognize that they have other responsibilities.”

Justice said since his office is an elected constitutional office, his own salary will not be affected by any state cuts. His concern is for the pay of the other employees in his office.

Justice said he is hoping some additional federal stimulus funds can be used to prevent another mid-year reduction in his office’s budget. “I don’t want to have to tell anyone that I have to cut their pay,” he said.

JOHN CANNON can be reached at jcannon@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2549.

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