Kentucky

Separation of powers being tested in AOC budget.  Story by Brandon Ortiz, Herald Leader -

Court system's employee pay raises stir controversy

The state court system is defying a legislative budget mandate to spend $7.8 million next fiscal year on pay raises for deputy clerks. The controversial move raises constitutional questions and could spur a backlash from the General Assembly.

Ignoring the recently passed state budget, the Court of Justice provided $3.4 million in "pay equity" raises for the judicial branch's non-elected employees making less than $60,000 a year.

Beyond a 1 percent raise that all state employees get, the legislature had only authorized pay raises for the approximately 1,800 deputy clerks, who are spread out in court houses throughout the state. The starting salary for deputy clerks is $18,120.

Some $8.4 million more was allocated by the courts for pay raises for all non-elected workers in fiscal year 2010.

News of the move angered several powerful legislators, who said the judicial branch is not complying with the law. Legislators said it could strain relations between the branches.