01. Ordinance 1517 - Salary Ordinance Amendment - 2nd ReadingKalispell Municipal Court
Judge Heidi Ulbilicht
Post. Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 599 8-1997 - Telephone (406)758-7705 Fax (406)758-7758
REPORT TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Judge Heidi Ulbricht
SUBJECT: Salary and yearly adjustment
MEETING BATE: December 6, 2004
BACKGROUND: In January 1997 the Kalispell City Court was converted to
Kalispell Municipal Court requiring the Judge to be an attorney. A municipal judge
must have the same qualifications as a judge of a district court. Further, Kalispell City
Ordinance § 2-61 mandates the Judge to be full time and shall not be employed outside
the. Court.
Earlier this year the city participated in a salary study for nonunion employees. The
municipal judge position was not included due to difficulty in comparing elected
officials.
l have conducted a telephone survey with other courts to have a comparison.
Montana District Court*
$92,000
Flathead County Justice of Peace
$78,000
Billings Municipal Judge*
$67,000
Bozeman Municipal .fudge*
$69,000
Great Falls Municipal Judge`
$65,000
Missoula Municipal Judge*
$70,000
Kalispell Municipal Mudge*
$50,000
Whitefish City Judge (part time)
$49,000
City of Kalispell
Kalispell City Attorney* $67,000
Kalispell Adjutant Attorney* $57,000
*Required to be an attorney
I am requesting City Council set the Municipal Judge's salary for the term beginning
January 1, 2005 at $64,000 with a yearly cost of living adjustment. I am making this
request early because the opening for election filing is April 20, 2005. It will be
necessary for the Council to establish the salary so as the election department can charge
the proper filing fee.
RECOMMENDATION. Passage of salary ordinance and yearly salary adjustments.
2
ORDINANCE NO.1517
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1506 WITH RESPECT TO THE
ANNUAL SALARY OF THE KALISPELL MUNICIPAL JUDGE AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on the 5th day of February, 2001, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 1379
that set the annual salary of the Kalispell Municipal Judge at S48,000 with an
annual cost of living increase each year thereafter; and
WHEREAS, other than the annual cost of living increase, the Kalispell Municipal Judge has
received no salary increase since the adoption of Ordinance No. 1379 and now
receives an annual salary of S50,000; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to state law the person bolding the position of municipal judge must
possess the qualifications of a law degree and membership in the state bar for a
minimum number of years and pursuant to City ordinance must work full-time in
the position and hold no other employment; and
WHEREAS, the current annual salary of the Kalispell Municipal Judge is significantly less
than the annual salaries received by other municipal judges in the State of
Montana and less than the Kalispell City Attorney and Adjutant Attorney; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City that the Kalispell Municipal Judge be paid an
annual salary that is competitive and that adequately compensates the position for
the education and experience that it requires.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, MONTANA,
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1 . Ordinance No. 1506 shall be and is hereby amended to pay the position of
Kalispell Municipal Judge the annual salary of $64,000 plus the annual
cost of living increase as currently set by Ordinance.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective on January 1, 2005 and no sooner
than thirty (30) days after the date of its final passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR
THIS 6TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2004,
Pamela B. Kennedy
Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa White
City Clerk