State Still Lags In Paying Share Of DA Salary

Potter County Commissioners continue to await payment from the state for its share of District Attorney Andy Watson’s salary. Act 57 of 2005 obligates the state to pay the 65 percent of a full-time DA’s salary, which will increase to $182,184 in 2019. By law, the District Attorney’s salary is $1,000 less than the salary of a county’s President Judge.

When those payments lag, the county covers the entire cost, a situation that does not sit well with commissioners across the state. According to a spokesman for the Office of Attorney General, the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account does not have enough funds to reimburse the full amount. As the funds continue to accumulate in the account, the state will make a partial payment for the overdue 2018 reimbursement.