As the end of budget season approaches, it is important to remember that any increases in compensation for members of the county legislative body do not take effect until the members’ next term of office. In 2020, legislation was passed amending T.C.A. § 5-5-107 to provide, “Any increase in compensation for members of the county legislative body does not take effect until the beginning of the term following the next election of county commissioners after the resolution increasing the compensation is adopted.”
Remember that T.C.A. § 5-5-107 was also amended to authorize counties to pay their members in one of three ways: (1) an amount greater than what is provided in the statute for attending meetings of the body as well as committee meetings; (2) a base salary; or (3) a combination of base salary and daily compensation for meeting attendance. Again, should you revise the way you compensate your members and that change results in a pay increase, such increase would not be effective until the members’ next term of office.
If you have any further questions on this topic, please feel free to contact your CTAS County Government Consultant.