CHAPTER 79

CHAPTER 79, LAWS 2002

AN ACT

RELATING TO COUNTIES; INCREASING SALARIES OF ELECTED COUNTY OFFICERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 4-44-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑4. CLASS A COUNTIES‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of class A counties shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, twenty-five thousand seven hundred twelve dollars ($25,712) each;

B. treasurer, fifty-six thousand nine hundred fifty-seven dollars ($56,957);

C. assessor, fifty-six thousand nine hundred fifty-seven dollars ($56,957);

D. sheriff, fifty-nine thousand three hundred ninety-eight dollars ($59,398);

E. county clerk, fifty-six thousand nine hundred fifty-seven dollars ($56,957);

F. probate judge, twenty-five thousand sixty-one dollars ($25,061); and

G. county surveyor, nineteen thousand four hundred forty‑two dollars ($19,442)."

Section 2. Section 4-44-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 67, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑4.1. CLASS B COUNTIES‑‑OVER THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS VALUATION‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of class B counties with an assessed valuation of over three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, nineteen thousand eight hundred fifty-four dollars ($19,854) each;

B. treasurer, forty-nine thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars ($49,796);

C. assessor, forty-nine thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars ($49,796);

D. sheriff, fifty-one thousand nine hundred twelve dollars ($51,912);

E. county clerk, forty-nine thousand seven hundred ninety-six dollars ($49,796);

F. probate judge, seventeen thousand four hundred twelve dollars ($17,412); and

G. county surveyor, a reasonable rate of compensation as determined by the board of county commissioners."

Section 3. Section 4-44-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑5. CLASS B COUNTIES‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of class B counties with an assessed valuation of over seventy‑five million dollars ($75,000,000) but under three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, fourteen thousand one hundred fifty-eight dollars ($14,158) each;

B. treasurer, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

C. county assessor, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

D. county sheriff, forty-four thousand five hundred eighty-nine dollars ($44,589);

E. county clerk, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

F. probate judge, nine thousand nine hundred twenty-seven dollars ($9,927); and

G. county surveyor, a reasonable rate of compensation as determined by the board of county commissioners."

Section 4. Section 4-44-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑6. CLASS C COUNTIES‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of class C counties shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, fourteen thousand one hundred fifty-eight dollars ($14,158) each;

B. county treasurer, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

C. county assessor, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

D. county sheriff, forty-four thousand five hundred eighty-nine dollars ($44,589);

E. county clerk, forty-two thousand six hundred thirty-six dollars ($42,636);

F. probate judge, nine thousand nine hundred twenty-seven dollars ($9,927); and

G. county surveyor, a reasonable rate of compensation as determined by the board of county commissioners."

Section 5. Section 4-44-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑7. FIRST CLASS COUNTIES‑‑OVER TWENTY‑SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS VALUATION‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of counties of the first class with an assessed valuation of over twenty‑seven million dollars ($27,000,000) but under forty‑five million dollars ($45,000,000) shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, twelve thousand eight hundred fifty-six dollars ($12,856) each;

B. treasurer, thirty-one thousand two hundred forty-six dollars ($31,246);

C. assessor, thirty-one thousand two hundred forty-six dollars ($31,246);

D. sheriff, thirty-three thousand six hundred eighty-six dollars ($33,686);

E. county clerk, thirty-one thousand two hundred forty-six dollars ($31,246);

F. probate judge, eight thousand three hundred dollars ($8,300); and

G. county surveyor, a reasonable rate of compensation as determined by the board of county commissioners."

Section 6. Section 4-44-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1957, Chapter 196, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

"4‑44‑8. FIRST CLASS COUNTIES‑‑UNDER TWENTY‑SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS VALUATION‑‑SALARIES.‑‑The annual salaries of elected officers of counties of the first class with an assessed valuation of over fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000) but under twenty‑seven million dollars ($27,000,000) shall not exceed:

A. county commissioners, eight thousand six hundred twenty-five dollars ($8,625) each;

B. treasurer, twenty-six thousand five hundred twenty-six dollars ($26,526);

C. assessor, twenty-six thousand five hundred twenty-six dollars ($26,526);

D. sheriff, thirty-three thousand six hundred eighty-six dollars ($33,686);

E. county clerk, twenty-six thousand five hundred twenty-six dollars ($26,526);

F. probate judge, seven thousand six hundred forty-eight dollars ($7,648); and

G. county surveyor, a reasonable rate of compensation as determined by the board of county commissioners."

Section 7. Section 4-44-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1955, Chapter 4, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

"4-44-14. H CLASS COUNTIES--SALARIES AND EXPENSES.--

A. Officers elected or appointed in an unincorporated county of the H class shall receive the following annual salaries:

(1) county commissioners, one dollar ($1.00);

(2) treasurer, one dollar ($1.00);

(3) assessor, one dollar ($1.00);

(4) sheriff, one dollar ($1.00);

(5) county clerk, one dollar ($1.00);

(6) probate judge, three thousand forty-eight dollars ($3,048); and

(7) county surveyor, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each day actually employed under orders by the board of county commissioners, such employment not to exceed fifty days in any one year.

B. The elected H class county officials listed in Subsection A of this section, except probate judge, in addition to the salaries prescribed shall be entitled to receive as per diem expense the sum of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) while in actual attendance at county commission meetings or while engaged in the performance of their official duties for the county. However, the total per diem expense allowance for each elected H class county official listed in Subsection A of this section shall not exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350) in any fiscal year. Such per diem expense shall be in addition to any allowance for sheriff's mileage or for other out-of-county expenses allowed for all officials by law and shall be budgeted, paid and audited as provided by laws governing expenditures of county funds."

Section 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is January 1, 2003.

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SENATE BILL 41, AS AMENDED