County Commissioner Joe Graham is proposing that the county hire only one fully-paid chief magistrate and use attorneys who serve by the hour for the rest of the schedule.
He said the county could save over $400,000 with that method.
The county currently has four full-time magistrates, plus fill-ins as needed.The pay for the four magistrates was recently raised significantly.
Commissioner Graham said, when the pay increase is fully phased in, the four magistrates will get $92,000 each. With benefits, that will be $128,800. He said that brings a program cost of over $515,000. He said another spending item is some $12,000 in extra pay for the chief magistrate.
The magistrates set bonds and sign warrants from a small office at the County Jail. They are a 24/7 operation.
Commissioner Graham said the chief magistrate could be given up to a four-year term so the commission would not have to keep dealing with the issue of retaining or replacing four magistrates.
The magistrates currently have one-year terms and are staggered with two coming up for renewal each year.
The commission recently advertised openings for two magistrate posts. Chief Magistrate Randy Russell and Magistrate Brandy Spurgin-Floyd were among the applicants.
Nine others applying were Kimberly Greuter,Lorrie Miller, J. Estes Cocke, Patricia Best Vital, Owen Stuart Brown, Jackson L. Case IV, Blake F. Murchison and Robert T. Davis.
Commissioner Tim Boyd said a meeting of the commission's Security and Corrections Committee for after next Wednesday's commission meeting to discuss the Graham plan. He said, "It's a good idea. I kind of like it."
Commissioner Graham said with pay above $90,000 the magistrates are on a level with magistrates in Juvenile Court, who, he said, have "10-times" more responsibility.
He said if a magistrates messes up on a bond or a warrant a General Sessions Court judge can quickly correct it.
Commissioner Graham noted that with the proposed set-up that the attorneys paid by the hour "could make some good income and also continue their legal practices."
Full-time magistrates at one time could have a civil practice. However, after a ruling last year, they can no longer practice any type of law.