HOUSE BILL 334

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Bob Wooley

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO COUNTIES; INCREASING THE SALARY LIMIT FOR ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS; ELIMINATING CERTAIN COUNTY CLASSES; CHANGING SALARY EQUITY REQUIREMENTS; AMENDING AND REPEALING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-44-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-1. CLASSIFICATION FOR SALARY PURPOSES.--

          A. For the purpose of fixing salaries of county officers, the several counties of the state, except "H" class counties, are hereby classified as follows:

                (1) those having a final, full assessed valuation of over seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) and having a population of one hundred thousand persons or more as determined by the most current annual population data or estimate available from the United States census bureau, as class "A" counties;

                (2) those having a final, full assessed valuation in excess of seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) with a population of less than one hundred thousand persons as determined by the most current annual population data or estimate available from the United States census bureau, as class "B" counties; and

                (3) those having a final, full assessed valuation [in excess of forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000)] equal to or less than seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) with a population of less than one hundred thousand persons as determined by the most current annual population data or estimate available from the United States census bureau, as class "C" counties

                [(4) those having a final, full assessed valuation of over fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000), as counties of the first class;

                (5) those having a final, full assessed valuation of eight million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($8,250,000) and under fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000), as counties of the second class;

                (6) those having a final, full assessed valuation of six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) and under eight million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($8,250,000), as counties of the third class;

                (7) those having a final, full assessed valuation of four million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($4,750,000) and under six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000), as counties of the fourth class; and

                (8) those having a final, full assessed valuation of less than four million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($4,750,000), as counties of the fifth class].

          B. The assessed valuation for each year shall be the full valuation as finally fixed for that year."

     SECTION 2. Section 4-44-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-4. CLASS A COUNTIES--SALARIES.--The annual salaries of elected officers of class A counties shall not exceed:

          A. county commissioners, [twenty-nine thousand five hundred sixty-nine dollars ($29,569)] thirty-four thousand five dollars ($34,005) each;

          B. treasurer, [sixty-five thousand five hundred one dollars ($65,501)] seventy-five thousand three hundred twenty-seven dollars ($75,327);

          C. assessor, [sixty-five thousand five hundred one dollars ($65,501)] seventy-five thousand three hundred twenty-seven dollars ($75,327);

          D. sheriff, [sixty-eight thousand three hundred eight dollars ($68,308)] seventy-eight thousand five hundred fifty-five dollars ($78,555);

          E. county clerk, [sixty-five thousand five hundred one dollars ($65,501)] seventy-five thousand three hundred twenty-seven dollars ($75,327); and

          F. probate judge, [twenty-eight thousand eight hundred twenty dollars ($28,820)] thirty-three thousand one hundred forty-three dollars ($33,143)."

     SECTION 3. Section 4-44-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 67, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-4.1. CLASS B COUNTIES--OVER THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($300,000,000) VALUATION--SALARIES.--The annual salaries of elected officers of class B counties with an assessed valuation of over three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall not exceed:

          A. county commissioners, [twenty-two thousand eight hundred thirty-two dollars ($22,832)] twenty-six thousand two hundred fifty-seven dollars ($26,257) each;

          B. treasurer, [fifty-seven thousand two hundred sixty-five dollars ($57,265)] sixty-five thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars ($65,855);

          C. assessor, [fifty-seven thousand two hundred sixty-five dollars ($57,265)] sixty-five thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars ($65,855);

          D. sheriff, [fifty-nine thousand six hundred ninety-nine dollars ($59,699)] sixty-eight thousand six hundred fifty-four dollars ($68,654);

          E. county clerk, [fifty-seven thousand two hundred sixty-five dollars ($57,265)] sixty-five thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars ($65,855); and

          F. probate judge, [twenty thousand twenty-four dollars ($20,024)] twenty-three thousand twenty-eight dollars ($23,028)."

     SECTION 4. Section 4-44-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-5. CLASS B COUNTIES--SALARIES.--The annual salaries of elected officers of class B counties with an assessed valuation of over seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000) but under three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall not exceed:

          A. county commissioners, [sixteen thousand two hundred eighty-two dollars ($16,282)] eighteen thousand seven hundred twenty-five dollars ($18,725) each;

          B. treasurer, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386);

          C. county assessor, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386);

          D. county sheriff, [fifty-one thousand two hundred seventy-seven dollars ($51,277)] fifty-eight thousand nine hundred sixty-nine dollars ($58,969);

          E. county clerk, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386); and

          F. probate judge, [eleven thousand four hundred sixteen dollars ($11,416)] thirteen thousand one hundred twenty-nine dollars ($13,129)."

     SECTION 5. Section 4-44-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-6. CLASS C COUNTIES--SALARIES.--The annual salaries of elected officers of class C counties shall not exceed:

          A. county commissioners, [sixteen thousand two hundred eighty-two dollars ($16,282)] eighteen thousand seven hundred twenty-five dollars ($18,725) each;

           B. county treasurer, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386);

          C. county assessor, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386);

          D. county sheriff, [fifty-one thousand two hundred seventy-seven dollars ($51,277)] fifty-eight thousand nine hundred sixty-nine dollars ($58,969);

          E. county clerk, [forty-nine thousand thirty-one dollars ($49,031)] fifty-six thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($56,386); and

          F. probate judge, [eleven thousand four hundred sixteen dollars ($11,416)] thirteen thousand one hundred twenty-nine dollars ($13,129)."

     SECTION 6. Section 4-44-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, Chapter 91, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-12.3. [LEGISLATIVE INTENT] UNIFORM SALARY CHANGES.--

          [A. The intent of the legislature when enacting salary increases for elected county officials is to provide for equitable salary increases.

          B. In accordance with Sections 4-44-3 through

4-44-8 NMSA 1978]

          A. The majority of a board of county commissioners may provide for salary increases for elected county officials; provided, however, that no salary increase shall take effect until the first day of the term of an elected county official who takes office after the date that salary increase is approved.

          B. Beginning with terms beginning January 1, 2013, the board of county commissioners in each county shall provide for the treasurer, assessor and clerk each to earn the same salary. The board of county commissioners shall provide for the sheriff to earn a salary not less than the salary earned by the treasurer, assessor and clerk and not more than five percent more than the salary earned by the treasurer, assessor and clerk."

     SECTION 7. Section 4-44-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1955, Chapter 4, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "4-44-14. H CLASS COUNTIES--SALARIES AND EXPENSES.--

          A. Officers elected or appointed in [an unincorporated] a county of the H class shall receive no more than the following annual salaries:

                (1) county commissioners, [one dollar ($1.00)] thirteen thousand seven hundred seventy-seven dollars ($13,777);

                (2) treasurer, [one dollar ($1.00)] six thousand eight hundred eighty-nine dollars ($6,889);

                (3) assessor, [one dollar ($1.00)] six thousand eight hundred eighty-nine dollars ($6,889);

                (4) sheriff, [one dollar ($1.00)] six thousand eight hundred eighty-nine dollars ($6,889);

                (5) county clerk, [one dollar ($1.00)] six thousand eight hundred eighty-nine dollars ($6,889); and

                (6) probate judge, [three thousand five hundred five dollars ($3,505); and

                (7) county surveyor, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each day actually employed under orders by the board of county commissioners, such employment not to exceed fifty days in any one year.

          B. The elected H class county officials listed in Subsection A of this section except probate judge in addition to the salaries prescribed shall be entitled to receive as per diem expense the sum of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) while in actual attendance at county commission meetings or while engaged in the performance of their official duties for the county. However, the total per diem expense allowance for each elected H class county official listed in Subsection A of this section shall not exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350) in any fiscal year. Such per diem expense shall be in addition to any allowance for sheriff's mileage or for other out-of-county expenses allowed for all officials by law and shall be budgeted, paid and audited as provided by laws governing expenditures of county funds.] four thousand thirty-one dollars ($4,031).

          B. The governing body of an H class county shall provide for salaries for the elected officials of the county pursuant to Section 4-44-12.3 NMSA 1978."  

     SECTION 8. REPEAL.--Sections 4-44-7, 4-44-8, 4-44-12.1, 4-44-12.2, 4-44-13 and 4-44-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Sections 5 and 6, Laws 1982, Chapter 39, Sections 10 and 12, Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 12 and Laws 1953, Chapter 59, Section 1, as amended) are repealed.

     SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.--

          A. The effective date of the provisions of Sections 1 through 5, 7 and 8 of this act is January 1, 2014.

          B. The effective date of the provisions of Section 6 of this act is July 1, 2013.

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