Section 11-3-4.1
Compensation of commissioners.
(a) For the purposes of this section, Section 11-3-4, and Chapter 2A of this title, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN. Those persons elected or appointed to such office by any and all lawful means but, except where specifically provided, shall not include those persons who serve as chair by virtue of their having been elected or appointed as judge of probate of the county.
(2) COMPENSATION. All salary, expense allowance, or any other compensation received for serving as commissioner or chair of the county commission, but shall not include any reimbursement for mileage traveled or actual and necessary expenses incurred which are otherwise payable by law.
(3) LOCAL LAW. Any and all applicable statutes that apply to any part of the state which is less than the whole and shall include statutes otherwise known as "general laws of local application" or "population bracket acts."
(b) No county commissioner shall receive compensation for serving as such officer, that is less than $14,600.00 per year. No county commission chairman shall receive compensation for serving as such officer, that is less than $18,600.00 per year.
(c) No county commissioner that is required by local law to serve full time as county commissioner, shall receive compensation for serving as such officer, that is less than $25,000.00 per year. No county commission chairman that is required by local law to serve full time as county commission chairman, shall receive compensation for serving as such officer, that is less than $30,000.00 per year.
(d) The provisions of this section shall in no way affect the compensation of county commissioners or county commission chairmen whose compensation is in excess of the minimum provided herein. Nor shall such provisions in any way affect subsequent local laws or general laws which provide compensation in excess of such minimums. Nor shall such provisions apply unless approved by a resolution of the county governing body. The resolution to adopt the pay raise must be published in the local newspaper for four consecutive weeks before the commission takes final action on the resolution. The provisions of this section shall in no way affect the compensation of judges of probate. All compensation affected hereby shall be payable from the respective county's general fund or any other fund from which the officer's compensation may now be paid by law.
(e) The provisions of this section which serve to increase any commissioner's or county commission chair's compensation shall not take effect until the first day of the next term of office for the official; provided however where the county commission members' terms do not run concurrently, any increase provided under this section shall become effective as to all the members thereof immediately after the expiration of the term or terms of office of the member or members whose term or terms first expire.
(f) This section shall be read in para materia with Chapter 2A of this title and where a county is covered by the provisions of that chapter, this section shall be applicable only for the purpose of the calculation of annual minimum compensation to be paid to a county commissioner pursuant to subdivision (2) of Section 11-2A-2.
(Acts 1982, No. 82-552, p. 912; Acts 1985, No. 85-365, p. 309; Act 2004-519, §1.)