Mobile County Commission 
Commissioner Connie Hudson
March 21, 2016
|
|
Message from Commissioner
Connie Hudson
 Last week the Mobile County Commission received the Alabama Supreme Court ruling from the lawsuit filed against the county by Mobile County District Attorney, Ashley Rich. The ruling favored the DA's position regarding an interpretation of the 1982 and 1988 local acts involving salary schedules for Mobile County Assistant District Attorneys (ADA's). These two local acts (only enforced in Mobile County) hold the Mobile County Commission to a much higher standard of mandated funding for Assistant DA positions than is required by the state for its DA offices in the other 66 counties.The county maintains that these two local acts place a stranglehold on the Mobile County Commission in mandating that the county fund state employees and provide for state raises. In other words, in a year when the county cannot even afford to provide raises to its own county employees, the county (not the state) would be required to pay the state raises for these ADA positions if such raises are ordered by the state.
The following points outline the county's issues of concern involved with the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling and also with District Attorney Ashley Rich's settlement proposal.
Based on the Court's opinion, all prospective raises passed by the state - for its state employees - must be paid by Mobile County to all Mobile County Assistant District Attorneys (up to 27), notwithstanding the state also appropriating funds for the raises.
- Mobile County would be required to pay both the state's employee raises and the county's employee raises in the same year to Mobile County ADAs. This means Mobile County may NOT give its employees raises without also providing the funding to give the same raises to ADAs in Mobile County.
- Mobile County is the only county in the state mandated to pay state raises; all others counties are given discretion to supplement their DA's offices as funds allow.
- The Mobile County DA may demand from $249,000 to $300,000 a year for a single Chief ADA salary. The DA sees this salary as the minimum she can charge on the schedule of salaries for her Chief Deputy.
- The Mobile County DA is demanding $4.8 million in back pay for salaries which includes amounts that were never paid to employees in the first place. She neglected to inform the public of this demand made to the county in her compromise.
- The Mobile County DA is demanding the county pay back pay and prospectively for vacant positions in the DA's office.
- The Mobile County DA is demanding the county pay back pay and prospectively for vacant defunct positions legal stenographers in the DA's office.
- Mobile County pays more funding for the Mobile County DA's office than virtually any other Alabama county does, and more than the state appropriates for the Mobile County DA.
- Although the Mobile County DA published a schedule of salaries, she has demanded increases immediately upon the schedule, and did not share this demand with the public. Her schedule does not bring her office in line with other offices, because no other office will receive state raises paid by both the county and the state.
- For 30+ years, previous Mobile County DAs have never deemed the county to be responsible for the state's ADA salaries.
- The demands for county funding for the DA's office come on the heels of harsh state funding cuts that were not caused by Mobile County. All other counties have the discretion to help all law enforcement by supplementing their state appropriations. This decision makes it mandatory that Mobile County pay state employees' salaries at a level higher than anyone else in the state.
- Ms. Rich's settlement threatens to take an experienced Chief ADA from $123,306.02 to $245,676 (a staggering $122,369.98 raise for a single employee in one year) with the county funding $230,676 of this single salary. A beginning ADA would go from $46,315.50 to $63,830 (a hefty $17,514.50 raise in starting salaries). We strongly disagree that the courts have mandated these extortionate salaries be paid.
The Supreme Court ruling did not address the county's argument, based on clear evidence, that the 1982 and 1988 local acts are unconstitutional. We contend that the constitutional requirements to enact the laws were never met before the acts were signed into law. In addition, the ruling fails to clarify the issue of salary retroactivity for ADA positions. The county intends to request clarification from the Alabama Supreme Court through a reconsideration process for interpretation of the salary retroactivity and other points that are vague and unclear. Clarification of such key issues could make the difference of several million dollars.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter!
Chili Cook-Off
|
| |
Commissioner Hudson is pictured at the Bright Beginnings Academy Chili Cook-Off, where she served on a panel of judges. The Cook-Off was held at the Creekwood Church of Christ Building on Schillinger Road South.
|
|
Elsie Collier Elementary School "Innovation Showcase"
|
| |
Commissioner Hudson is pictured with Michelle Shropshire, Principal of Elsie Collier Elementary School, during the school's "Innovation Showcase." The Showcase gave visitors the chance to tour the school and see what a difference the county's and other partners' contributions have made in putting learning innovation into action.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEATURED MOBILE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
PET OF THE WEEK, "RANGO"
|
 |
"Rango", a 1-year-old Cattle Dog, is the Pet of the Week at MCAS. He has been neutered, is heartworm negative, has received a 5-in-1 vaccine, a 1-year rabies vaccine, a bordatella vaccine, and a wormer. His $40 adoption fee will cover a microchip with lifetime registration.
|
Each adoption fee always includes the spay/neuter, a 5-in-1 vaccine (distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus), a bordatella vaccine (kennel cough), a 1-year rabies vaccine, and an intestinal wormer. The MCAS is a proud recipient of funding from Maddie's FundŽ (www.maddiesfund.org), helping to achieve a no-kill nation. As a result of the Maddie's Grant, each adopted pet is both tested for heartworms and implanted with a microchip, which includes the lifetime registration.
If you are interested in adopting "Rango", please contact the Mobile County Animal Shelter (MCAS) at 574-3647 (DOGS) or stop by the shelter at 7665 Howells Ferry Road. You can also follow the MCAS on Facebook, Instagram (mcacshelter), or Twitter (@mcacshelter) to receive updates about adoptable pets and upcoming events!
For more information on the Mobile County Animal Shelter or to view a list of all current adoptable pets at the MCAS Click Here. |
|
RESCHEDULED EVENT
|
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SEMMES AZALEA FESTIVAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 12, 2016 WAS
CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
THE EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2, 2016.
|
 MOBILE COUNTY SPRING CALENDAR |
For additional information on City of Mobile events Click Here.
|
MOBILE COUNTY COMMUNITY
| |
|
DISTRICT 2 ROAD PROJECTS UPDATE
|
Current District 2 road projects are moving along toward completion. Click Here to view a complete list of ongoing road projects in Mobile County Commission District 2.
|
MOBILE COUNTY FINANCIAL UPDATE
|
Through January 2016 we have completed 33% of the 2016 fiscal year. Our year-to-date revenue through January 2016 is $55,755,943.88. This represents 41.12% of budgeted FY2016 revenue. Receipt of many of our major revenues lag by one month. Most of the property tax revenue and business license revenue is collected in December and January.
The year-to-date expenditures and transfers through January 2016 are $42,191,687.70. This is 31.11% of total budgeted expenditures and transfers for the fiscal year 2016. We expect expenditures to be below 33% on this report.
Both revenues and expenditures are within expected ranges for January.
Click Here to view the latest General Fund Budget Report in full.
|
MOBILE COUNTY UPCOMING
COMMISSION MEETINGS
|
Commission Conference
When: 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 24
Where: Mobile Government Plaza Multi-Purpose Room
Commission Regular Meeting
When: 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 28
Where: Mobile Government Plaza Auditorium
Commission Conference
When: 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 7
Where: Mobile Government Plaza Multi-Purpose Room
Commission Regular Meeting
When: 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 11
Where: Mobile Government Plaza Auditorium
Commission Conference
When: 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 21
Where: Mobile Government Plaza Multi-Purpose Room
Click Here for more information and to view the agendas for the above meetings as they are posted.
|
CONTACT COMMISSIONER HUDSON
| |
Connie Hudson, Mobile County Commissioner
Mobile County Commission, District 2
P.O. Box 1443
Mobile, Alabama 36633
Office: (251) 574-2000
Office Fax: (251) 574-2001
Mailing Address: 205 Government Street, 10th Floor, Mobile, Alabama 36602
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
