MOHAVE COUNTY – A number of elected Mohave County officials, and their counterparts across the state, have significant pay raises to celebrate this holiday season. The salary increases take effect the first of the year.
In Mohave County, nine positions will see their annual salaries increased from $63,800 to $83,800. They include each of the five Board of Supervisors posts, the Assessor, Treasurer, Recorder and School Superintendent.
Annual compensation for the County Attorney upward adjusts from almost $124,000 to nearly $144,000 while pay for Sheriff goes up exactly $20,000 to almost $121,000.
Financial Services Director Luke Mournian said the pending raises for the 11 county officials will total $220,000. Those holding various spots on the Mohave County bench will also see significant pay hikes in 2025.
Their increases vary by position, but Financial Services Director Luke Mournian said the adjustments will increase a current judicial officer salary total of $2.27-million to $2.43-million in Jan. That represents an increase of almost $160,000 spread over 7 Superior Court judges, 3 Court Commissioners and 5 Justices of the Peace, excluding Pro Tem’s.
Superior Court judges top the pay chart for those on the local bench. Court Administrator Kip Anderson said local Superior Court judges making $180,000 per year will enjoy a $10,000 increase beginning in 2025.
Mournian said the salary increases for the judicial officers and the other county officials together represent increased expense of $379,480 in 2025. He said the county is responsible for $317,000 of that, with the balance provided by the state which contributes a portion of the salaries for the judicial officers.
The raises for the non-judicial positions occur through legislation approved in 2021, HB2700, wholly supported by current Arizona state senator, former representative John Kavanagh. In a late 2023 interview, he said the increases are an investment in public service talent.
“Look, it was long overdue. People have a right to be reimbursed market wages. You shouldn’t have to take a major pay cut to hold elective office,” Kavanagh said. “It was really necessary to bring the pay up and it was especially critical for the county attorneys.”
Mournian said the pay increases for those on the bench occur through this year’s passage of HB2897.
Dave Hawkins
