No. 35-77
56.280, RSMo Supp. 1975, relating to the compensation of prosecuting attorneys in counties of the third and fourth classes, does not repeal the provisions for additional compensation for such prosecuting attorneys under Sections 56.285 and 56.291, RSMo, and the prosecuting attorneys of such counties are entitled to compensation based on all such sections.
Cite as Mo. Op. Att'y Gen. No. 35-77
COMPENSATION:
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY:
Section 56 . 280, RSMo Supp . 1975,
relating to the compensation of
prosecuting attorneys in counties
of the third and fourth classes , does no t repeal the provisions
for additional compensation for such pro s~cuting attorneys under
Sections 56.285 and 56.291, RSMo , and the prosecuting attorneys
of such counties are entitled to compensation oased on all such
sections.
OPINION NO. 35
January 20, 1977
Mr. James P. Anderton
Prosecuting Attorney , Hickory County
County Court House
Herm~tage, Missouri
65668
Dear Mr. Anderton:
Fl LED
a~--
This opinion is in response to your question asking as
follows :
"Is the proper salary for a Prosecuting
Attorney in a Fourth Class County of a valu-
ation of over $10 , 000 , 000 and population of
less than 7 , 500 based only on RSMo. 56.280
for a total salary of $5,806.30 or is it
based on RSMo. 56.280, 56.285, and 56.291
for a total salary of $7,606 . 30?"
It is our understanding that Hickory County has a population
of approximately 4,500, has a valuation of slightly in excess of
$10,000,000, and is a fourth class county.
Section 56.280 was amended in 1972 and 1974 to provide for
increases in the salaries of prosecuting attorneys.
The present
section is Section 56 . 280, RSMo Supp. 1975 .
Section 56.285, RSMo 1969, enacted Laws 1957 , p. 330,
provides:
"The prosecuting attorney in counties of
the third and fourth classes, in addition to
the compensation provided in section 56 . 280
shall receive eight hundred dollars in third
class counties and six hundred dollars in
Mr. James P. Anderton
fourth class counties per year , as compensa-
tion for the additional services performed
by him in relation to aid to dependent child-
ren as provided in section 208.040, RSMo."
Section 56 . 291 , RSMo, as enacted Laws 1965, p. 165, pro-
vides that the prosecuting attorney in third and fourth class
counties in addition to his other duties as provided by law shall
submit to the Attorney General of the State of Missouri a writ-
ten brief summarizing the facts and law the lower court pro-
ceedings had in all criminal cases appealed to the Supreme Court
from the county of his jurisdiction and as compensation shall
receive in addition to the compensation provided by law in third
and fourth class counties having an assessed valuation of
$10,000 , 000 and less than $20,000,000 the sum of $1 , 200.
Clearly there would be no question as to the application
of Sections 56 . 285 and 56 . 291 had it not been for the subsequent
amendment of Section 56.280.
The only question, as we see it,
that you raise is whether Section 56.280 is exclusive and whether
the amendment of Section 56.280 was intended to repeal by impli-
cation Sections 56.285 and 56.291.
Section 56.280 provides that the prosecuting attorney in
counties of the third and fourth classes shall receive annually,
as "total compensation for his services" in counties having a
population of less than 7,500, the sum of $5,806 .30.
The pro-
vision of that section referring to the "total compensation for
his services" was the same in the earlier enactments of Section
56.280 .
We do not believe that Section 56 . 280, RSMo Supp . 1975, was
intended to provide for the total compensation of prosecuting
attorneys exclusive of Sections 56 . 285 and 56.291 .
Neither
Section 56 . 285 nor Section 56 . 291 was specifically repealed and
obviously repeals by implication are not favored .
Furthermore, Section 1.120, RSMo, with respect to the
construction of reenactments, provides that the provisions of
any statute which is reenacted insofar as they are the same
as those of a prior law shall be construed as a continuation
of such law and not as a new enactment.
For cases relating
thereto see V.A.M.S. Annotations, Section 1.120.
Therefore, it is our view that these statutes must be read
together and that the prosecuting attorney of Hickory County is
entitled to receive the compensation provided for him pursuant
..... 2 ~
Mr . James P . Anderton
to Sections 56 .280, 56.285 and 56.291.
The total salary based
on such sections, as you indicate, amounts to $7,606 . 30.
CONCLUSION
It is the op~n~on of this office that Section 56.280, RSMo
Supp. 1975, relating to the compensation of prosecuting attorneys
in counties of the third and fourth classes , does not repeal the
provisions for additional co1npensation for such prosecuting at-
torneys under Sections 56 .285 and 56.291, RSMo, and the pro-
secuting attorneys of such counties are entitled to compensation
based on all such sections .
The foregoing opinion, which I hereby approve, was written
by my assistant , John c. Klaffe nbach .
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