Alabama Attorney General Opinion 1979-0085

fid.ATTORNEY GENERAL CHARLES A. GRADOICK ATTORNEY GENERAL Sheriff W. R. Collins Jackson County Scottsboro, Alabama 35768 Jackson County - Sheriffs Salaries Appropriation by Jackson County for increase in Sheriff's salary provided by Act No. 835 of the 1978 Regular Session discussed. kL # STATE OF ALABAMA • MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA 36i Z-2 14_ 00085 Dear Sheriff Collins: Reference is made to your request for an opinion from the Attorney General as to the following matter: Does the amount of appropriation estab- lished by Jackson County Bill #835 automatically increase in the amount necessary to compensate the Sheriff's Department budget for the salary increase provided for in Act No. 538. Act No. 835 of the 1978 Legislative Session relates to Jackson County and provides for the budgeting of the Sheriff's Department of that county. Concerning automatic increases in the appropriation for the Sheriff's Department, Section 1 of Act No. 835 states: ... provided, however, that the budget for the Sheriff's departfient shall be automatically increased by an amount sufficient to provide the same percent- age salary increase for the employees of the Sheriff's office as is provided for other county employees when a raise is provided for county employees. Sheriff W. R. Collins Page 2 According to the above provision, the County's appropriation to the Sheriff's Department of Jackson County is to be automatically increased only when an increase in salary is to be given to the employees of the Sheriff's Department because other county em- ployees have received a salary increase. The term "other county employees" as used in the above quoted provision clearly does not include the sheriff. If our office can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, CHARLES A. GRADDICK Attorney General By- LYNDA F. KNIGHT Assistant Attorney General LFK/sg