The county legislative
authority of each county or a county commissioner or
councilmember salary commission which conforms with RCW 36.17.024
is authorized to establish the salaries of the elected officials
of the county. The state and county shall contribute to the
costs of the salary of the elected prosecuting attorney as set
forth in subsection (11) of this section. The annual salary of a
county elected official shall not be less than the following:
(1) In each county with a population of one million or more:
Auditor, clerk, treasurer, sheriff, members of the county
legislative authority, and coroner, eighteen thousand dollars;
and assessor, nineteen thousand dollars;
(2) In each county with a population of from two hundred ten
thousand to less than one million: Auditor, seventeen thousand
six hundred dollars; clerk, seventeen thousand six hundred
dollars; treasurer, seventeen thousand six hundred dollars;
sheriff, nineteen thousand five hundred dollars; assessor,
seventeen thousand six hundred dollars; members of the county
legislative authority, nineteen thousand five hundred dollars;
and coroner, seventeen thousand six hundred dollars;
(3) In each county with a population of from one hundred
twenty-five thousand to less than two hundred ten thousand:
Auditor, sixteen thousand dollars; clerk, sixteen thousand
dollars; treasurer, sixteen thousand dollars; sheriff, seventeen
thousand six hundred dollars; assessor, sixteen thousand dollars;
members of the county legislative authority, seventeen thousand
six hundred dollars; and coroner, sixteen thousand dollars;
(4) In each county with a population of from seventy
thousand to less than one hundred twenty-five thousand: Auditor,
fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars; clerk, fourteen thousand
nine hundred dollars; treasurer, fourteen thousand nine hundred
dollars; assessor, fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars;
sheriff, fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars; members of the
county legislative authority, fourteen thousand nine hundred
dollars; and coroner, fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars;
(5) In each county with a population of from forty thousand
to less than seventy thousand: Auditor, thirteen thousand eight
hundred dollars; clerk, thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars;
treasurer, thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars; assessor,
thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars; sheriff, thirteen
thousand eight hundred dollars; members of the county legislative
authority, thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars; and coroner,
thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars;
(6) In each county with a population of from eighteen
thousand to less than forty thousand: Auditor, twelve thousand
one hundred dollars; clerk, twelve thousand one hundred dollars;
treasurer, twelve thousand one hundred dollars; sheriff, twelve
thousand one hundred dollars; assessor, twelve thousand one
hundred dollars; and members of the county legislative authority,
eleven thousand dollars;
(7) In each county with a population of from twelve thousand
to less than eighteen thousand: Auditor, ten thousand one
hundred dollars; clerk, ten thousand one hundred dollars;
treasurer, ten thousand one hundred dollars; assessor, ten
thousand one hundred dollars; sheriff, eleven thousand two
hundred dollars; and members of the county legislative authority,
nine thousand four hundred dollars;
(8) In each county with a population of from eight thousand
to less than twelve thousand: Auditor, ten thousand one hundred
dollars; clerk, ten thousand one hundred dollars; treasurer, ten
thousand one hundred dollars; assessor, ten thousand one hundred
dollars; sheriff, eleven thousand two hundred dollars; and
members of the county legislative authority, seven thousand
dollars;
(9) In each county with a population of from five thousand
to less than eight thousand: Auditor, nine thousand one hundred
dollars; clerk, nine thousand one hundred dollars; treasurer,
nine thousand one hundred dollars; assessor, nine thousand one
hundred dollars; sheriff, ten thousand five hundred dollars; and
members of the county legislative authority, six thousand five
hundred dollars;
(10) In each other county: Auditor, nine thousand one
hundred dollars; clerk, nine thousand one hundred dollars;
treasurer, nine thousand one hundred dollars; sheriff, ten
thousand five hundred dollars; assessor, nine thousand one
hundred dollars; and members of the county legislative authority,
six thousand five hundred dollars;
(11) The state of Washington shall contribute an amount
equal to one-half the salary of a superior court judge towards
the salary of the elected prosecuting attorney. Upon receipt of
the state contribution, a county shall continue to contribute
towards the salary of the elected prosecuting attorney in an
amount that equals or exceeds that contributed by the county in
2008.
[2008 c 309 § 2; 2001 c 73 § 3; 1994 sp.s. c 4 § 1; 1991 c 363 § 52; 1973 1st ex.s. c 88 § 2; 1971 ex.s. c 237 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 226 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 77 § 2; 1967 c 218 § 3; 1963 c 164 § 1; 1963 c 4 § 36.17.020. Prior: 1957 c 219 § 3; prior: (i) 1953 c 264 § 1; 1949 c 200 § 1, part; 1945 c 87 § 1, part; 1937 c 197 § 3, part; 1933 c 136 § 6, part; 1925 ex.s. c 148 § 6, part; 1919 c 168 § 2, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 4200-5a, part. (ii) 1921 c 184 § 2; RRS § 4203.]
NOTES:
Findings -- 2008 c 309: "The legislature finds that an
elected county prosecuting attorney functions as both a state
officer in pursuing criminal cases on behalf of the state of
Washington, and as a county officer who acts as civil counsel for
the county, and provides services to school districts and lesser
taxing districts by statute.
The elected prosecuting attorney's dual role as a state
officer and a county officer is reflected in various provisions
of the state Constitution and within state statute.
The legislature finds that the responsibilities and
decisions required of the elected prosecuting attorney are
essentially the same in every county within Washington state,
from a decision to seek the death penalty in an aggravated murder
case, to the decision not to prosecute but refer an offender to
drug court; from a decision to pursue child rape charges based
solely upon the testimony of the child, to a decision to divert
juvenile offenders out of the justice system. Therefore, the
legislature finds that elected prosecuting attorneys need to
exercise the same level of skill and expertise in the least
populous county as in the most populous county.
The legislature finds that the salary of the elected county
prosecuting attorney should be tied to that of a superior court
judge. This furthers the state's interests and responsibilities
under the state Constitution, and is consistent with the current
practice of several counties in Washington state, the practices
of several other states, and the national district attorneys'
association national standards." [2008 c 309 § 1.]
Effective date -- 2008 c 309: "This act takes effect July 1, 2008." [2008 c 309 § 3.]
Findings -- Intent -- Severability -- 2001 c 73: See notes following RCW 35.21.015.
Purpose -- Captions not law -- 1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.
Severability -- 1971 ex.s. c 237: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1971 ex.s. c 237 § 4.]
Effective date -- 1971 ex.s. c 237: "This act shall take effect on January 1, 1972." [1971 ex.s. c 237 § 5.]
Counties with populations of less than five thousand, combined office of auditor and clerk, salary: RCW 36.16.032.