§ 45-39-70 — Election of Chair; Term; Salary; Duties

(a)(1) The Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission shall be elected on a countywide basis. The chair shall take office at the same time as members of the Lauderdale County Commission take office and shall serve a four-year term or until a successor is elected and qualified. The chair shall preside over meetings of the county commission and shall vote only in the case of a tie vote of the commissioners.
(2) The salary of the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission shall be forty thousand dollars ($40,000) per year payable in equal semi-monthly installments from the general fund of the county.
(3) Effective beginning the next term of office after May 2, 2023, or effective for any term thereafter, the Lauderdale County Commission may increase the salary of the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission, provided the salary does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year.
(4) In addition to the salary provided in subdivision (2) or (3), the Lauderdale County Commission from time to time may provide the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission an additional expense allowance during his or her term, provided the total compensation of the chair, including salary and expense allowance, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year. Any expense allowance granted to the chair pursuant to this subdivision shall automatically convert to salary effective beginning the next term of office of the chair.
(b) In addition to the other duties and responsibilities of the chair, the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Promote economic development in the county.
(2) Establish and enhance intergovernmental partnerships.
(3) Serve as the representative of Lauderdale County and the Lauderdale County Commission on any boards, committees, or other organizations that require representation of the county.
(4) Perform any other duties as determined by a majority vote of the county commission.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any salary paid to the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission in the form of annual increases, cost-of-living increases, or otherwise prior to May 2, 2023, are ratified, validated, and confirmed retroactively to November 18, 2016.

Legislative History

(Act 2010-577, p. 1274, §§1, 2; Act 2023-88, §§1, 2.)