THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110457
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock appealed to City Council members Tuesday night to use about $53,000 in state funds for salary increases in his office next year.
The money, which is allocated by the state's Compensation Board, would provide raises for about 10 attorneys.
In recent years, Bullock said, statewide salaries of public defenders have been higher than the salaries of prosecutors, making it harder to attract prosecuting attorneys. More competitive salaries in other Hampton Roads cities has added to the problem, he said.
But effective Jan. 1, the state legislature provided funds through the Compensation Board to match the pay scale of public defenders.
``Portsmouth has committed itself . . . to reducing crime,'' Bullock said. ``We need the money now.''
City Manager V. Wayne Orton said that while he is not opposed to a salary increase, he favors postponing a decision until a study of city pay scales is completed. by CNB