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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 95 appropriates $713.5 in recurring general fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts to give justices of the supreme court a salary increase to $98.0 annually.

Significant Issues

In accordance with Section 34-1-9 NMSA 1978, the salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court would be $100.0; the salary of the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals would be $93.1; the salary of a Court of Appeals Justice would be $88.4; the salary of a District Court Judge would be $84.0; the salary of a Metropolitan Court Judge would be $75.6; and the salary of a Magistrate Judge would be $56.7.

Salaries for special commissioners and child support hearing offices are also tied to those of the judges. Senate Bill 95 would require an increase for these positions of $61.5. Therefore, the total salary increase would cost $775.0.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Costs for increased benefits related to the salary increase are not reflected in Senate Bill 95. Assuming that employee benefits cost approximately 30 percent of salaries, the total benefits increase would cost an additional $232.5.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Traditionally, compensation increases for judges and justices are addressed through the General Appropriations Act and are appropriated to the Department of Finance and Administration for distribution.

BOC/prr:gm