1. Municipal Judge Salary ReviewKalispell Municipal
HeidiJudge C
Past Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone k'400)758-7705 Fax (406)758-7758
REPORT TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: .fudge Heidi Ulbricht
SUBJECT: Salary and yearly adjustment
MEETING DATE: November 8, 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.
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municipal judge position was not included due to difficulty in comparing elected
officials_
I 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 Judge*
$69,000
Great palls Municipal Judge*
$65,000
Missoula Municipal Judge*
$70,000
Kalispell Municipal Judge*
$50,000
Whitefish City .fudge (part time)
$49,000
City of Kalispell
Kalispell City Attorney* $67,000
Kalispell Adjutant Attorney* $57,000
*Required to be an. attorney
I
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.
FISCAt EFFECTS: Unknown.
II UIbricht
Municipal Judge
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