Compensation Increases for Certified Elections Administrators - Articles

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Compensation Increases for Certified Elections Administrators

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 18, 2025

Court: TN Attorney General Opinions

Hearing Date: 06/03/2025

Opinion Number: 11

Question: Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-24-102(d) requires that each year the compensation for certain county officials “be increased by a dollar amount equal to the average annualized general increase in state employees’ compensation . . . during the prior fiscal year multiplied by the compensation established herein for the county officials of the county with the median population of all counties; provided, however, that the annualized general increase tied to the increase in state employees’ compensation shall not exceed five percent (5%) in any given year[.]” For the past several years, the County Technical Assistance Service has published a schedule indicating the minimum salary based on the foregoing statutory provision for various county officials, including allowing for a yearly increase of up to 5% for elections administrators. However, Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-12-208(f) requires that “each July 1 . . . the compensation for certified administrators . . . shall be increased by a dollar amount equal to the average annualized general increase in state employee’s compensation during the prior fiscal year multiplied by the compensation established for the county officials of the county with the median population of all counties; provided, in no year shall such compensation increase by more than ten percent (10%).” In years in which the average annualized general increase in state employee compensation is 10% or greater, is the minimum increase in compensation for certified elections administrators 5% or 10%?

Opinion: The formula and 10% cap in Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-12-208(f) govern compensation increases for certified elections administrators.

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