A judge in Clearfield is fighting to pay court reporters more money.
County officials say they had three court reporters until one retired and a second took a federal court job.
President Judge Fred Ammerman asked the Salary Board to increase an existing reporter’s pay from about $21 to $33 per hour, and a vacant position from $15 to $25 per hour.
The motion died with no second.
“We’re competing with other counties, with other entities, to try and bring the talent that we need, and we currently have a negotiated contract that has a set pay scale,” says Commissioner Mark McCracken.
McCracken says a five-year union contract took effect on Jan. 1 and that the commissioners are not in a position to re-open it.
Commissioner John Sobel asked for a commissioner to join Ammerman on an upcoming trip to see an electronic court-reporting system in McKean County.