Fayetteville's municipal court judge and solicitor have requested

pay increases for the upcoming fiscal year that have not yet been calculated

into the city's budget.

Municipal Court Judge Mike Martin is asking for the city to pay one-half

of the cost of his insurance package, which would equate to another $300

per month. Martin receives an $1,800 a month retainer and $300 for each

court session, which he notes is the same compensation he agreed to when

he took over the role in 2000.

City Solicitor Warren A. Sellers is asking for an increase in his rate

per court session to $375 from $300 and an increase in the rate for out-of-court

work to $100 per hour from $85 per hour.

In a memo to City Manager Joe Morton, Martin said he makes himself available

daily to hear jail cases "rather than have inmates sit in jail overnight

and thus costing the taxpayers extra money." Martin also noted that

Riverdale pays $450 per court session and Forest Park pays $425 per court

session.

Sellars, who is also an attorney in private practice, noted in a letter

to Morton that he turns down cases that have conflicting court dates

and the volume of work has increased. He also noted that his current

fees haven't changed since June 2001.

At a presentation on the city's budget last week, city finance

director Lynn Robinson said more information on the requests would be

available at a later date. The earliest council could adopt the budget

would be at its July 15 meeting since its July 1 meeting has been cancelled.

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