Courthouse squabble erupts over raises

A delegation of constitutional officers and county employees led by Chief Magistrate Larry Bearden staged a protest Tuesday night before the county commission over double digit pay raises authorized for employees of the clerk of court office in the 2009 operating budget.
The county commission included the raises ranging from 13.6 percent to 22 percent for three clerks in the office in the fiscal year 09 budget on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Bobby Burns and Charles Norton in opposition.