Four court clerks in Hamilton County are eligible for 10 percent pay increases - if approved by the County Commission.

County Finance Director Louis Wright said, "I think all of them have included it in their budgets."

Mr. Wright said he did not know if approval would require a separate resolution by the commission. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said approval of the budgets by the commission should be sufficient.

Commissioner Fred Skillern said he is opposed. He said, "They knew what they were making when they went into office. I am not in favor of mid-term raises."

Another commissioner, Greg Beck, said he has no problem with the increase. "It's been approved by the state," he said.

Those affected - because their duties involve more than one division of court - are Circuit Court Clerk Paula Thompson, Criminal Court Clerk Gwen Tidwell, Juvenile Court Clerk Ron Swafford and Clerk and Master Lee Akers.

Their pay would go from $94,762 to $104,238.

That would put them well ahead of such county officials as County Clerk Bill Knowles, Trustee Carl Levi and Register Pam Hurst, who would stay at $94,762.

Ms. Thompson said she believes she deserves the increase. She said, "I've been here 40 years and I work hard. I go back and forth between the two courts."

She said the law making the increase possible went into effect last year and a number of clerks across the state have already been given the higher salary.

Mr. Akers said the issue has been "on the back burner" with him, but he said he expects it will be in his budget.

He said it is not required that the clerk and master be an attorney, but he said he has long felt that there should be a supplement when a lawyer serves in the post. He is an attorney.

The law says: "Clerks of court who serve more than one court may, at the discretion of the county legislative body, be paid additional compensation in the amount of 10 percent of the clerk's base compensation."

It is unclear whether the adjustment would trigger other raises. Another section of the law says "Increases paid to county clerks under this provision will result in an increase in the minimum salary for the sheriff, the highway superintendent and the county mayor." Pay of the Council Commission and City Council members is tied to that of the county mayor.

Ms. Tidwell and Mr. Swafford did not return calls asking for comment.