A raise? No thanks.
That?s the message from Baltimore County State?s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, who is hoping a proposal before Maryland?s General Assembly will put to rest criticism over his $190,000 salary. The bill would reduce his annual 5-percent raise to match cost-of-living adjustments given to all other county employees.
“Basically, I am asking them not to give me a raise,” Shellenberger said. “We think this addresses all the issues raised a year ago.”
A Democrat, Shellenberger took office in January 2007 and began collecting a salary slightly more than the final salary of his predecessor, Sandra O?Connor, who held the position for 32 years. Current state law ties the salary of the top prosecutor to that of circuit court judges ? about $60,000 less? plus an annual 5-percent increase.
O?Connor and former Assistant State?s Attorney Stephen Bailey suggested Shellenberger?s salary should revert back to the level of circuit court judges and increase thereafter, but Shellenberger and County Executive Jim Smith said the salary goes with the position, not the individual.
Thursday, Del. Eric Bromwell, the Democratic chair of the county?s Annapolis delegation, introduced legislation that sets the salary at $190,000 and annual increases equivalent to other county employees.
“I think the state?s attorney should be treated like any other county employee,” Bromwell said. “[Shellenberger] is aware of it and actually wants it.”
Shellenberger said he believes legislators who adopted the current calculations in 1982 did not anticipate the exponential increases. Left untouched, he would make $500,000 in 20 years. His salary now is the second highest in the state. Baltimore City prosecutor Patricia Jessamy makes $225,000.
Last year, Smith lobbied members of the County Council to uphold Shellenberger?s salary. Calls to hisoffice were not returned.
