Embattled Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is trying to win a permanent $4.3 million increase in funding to keep his staff from fleeing the department. Horne claims that the department is losing experienced attorneys and investigators for better paying agencies.
Horne ignores the fact in his rationale that the department is plagued with scandal from top to bottom and the witch hunt atmosphere is stifling to most employees. Instead, he notes in his request that an “infusion of funds approved in 2008 to improve starting salaries lowered the turnover rates for less-experienced attorneys, but large pay gaps continue for attorneys with experience ranging from five to 24 years,” according to the Yellow Sheet.
Horne claims that large pay gaps continue for attorneys with experience ranging from five to 24 years.
In his request Horne writes, “On average, during the elected term of an Attorney General, using our current turnover rate, the office can expect to turnover nearly two-thirds of its experienced attorneys.
The Yellow Sheet reports that the average “Bar Year” experience of an assistant AG is 16 years and earns on average $84,830, while comparable deputy county attorneys earn $90,717, plus the county helps to pay off their student loans at $7,200 a year.
Attorneys with the City of Phoenix earn an average of $108,000. An assistant City of Tucson attorney makes about $76,000 and the Tucson City Attorney earns about $147,000.
Horne is also requesting a pay increase for investigators as well.
Despite the disparity, many speculate that Horne could not pay his current employees enough to stay in what has become described by many as a hostile work environment.