Magistrate Judge Asks For $12,000 Raise

DAWSONVILLE Ga. — As the Dawson County Board of Commissioners works out the county’s new budget, Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Poss-Thurmond has asked the Board to consider adding a $12,000 supplement to the annual salaries for her and the county’s other magistrate judge, Anthony Tarnacki.

Poss-Thurmond made the request at Thursday’s work session.

In addition to the annual supplement, Poss-Thurmond requested an additional $918 each in the form of a FICA/Medicare adjustment.

Thurmond-Poss, who has served the county for 12 years, currently earns $59,127.81 annually while Tarnacki earns $52,611.44 after eight years with the county.

She told the Board that she and Tarnacki earn less than the assistant district attorneys who appear before them. She also pointed out that magistrate judges must be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“We do all the same work as the other department heads,” she said. “I’m asking to keep our salaries in line with theirs. I’m asking for fairness for myself and Judge Tarnacki. I trust his judgement and his wisdom and I’m trying to keep him.”

The Board will vote on the request at the regular Board meeting next Thursday.