MORGAN COUNTY, Ky. — The Morgan County salary debate continues to evolve, as the county’s top official has now responded publicly to concerns surrounding recent pay increases for magistrates.
As previously reported by The Morehead Minute, the Morgan County Fiscal Court voted during an April 30 special-called meeting to raise magistrate salaries from $8,400 to $18,000 per year, a move that passed by a 3–2 vote and has drawn both support and criticism from officials and residents.
Following earlier coverage, The Morehead Minute reached out to county leadership for comment. While no immediate response was received at the time of publication, Morgan County Judge Executive Jim Gazay has now provided a statement addressing the issue.
Judge Executive Acknowledges Public Frustration
In his response, Judge Executive Gazay acknowledged concerns from the public regarding elected officials voting to increase their own pay.
“I hear the frustration from our citizens about these raises, and I understand it. No one likes seeing elected officials vote to increase their own pay,” Gazay said.
Points to State Law as Root of the Issue
Gazay emphasized that the situation reflects what he described as a broader issue with Kentucky law, specifically KRS 64.530, which governs how compensation is set for local officials.
According to Gazay, the current system often results in long periods without pay adjustments, followed by significant increases.
“Magistrates often go 10, 20 years without a raise because they fear political backlash,” he said.
He added that, unlike magistrates, the salary for County Judge Executives is set by the state and adjusted automatically, suggesting a similar system could improve transparency and consistency.
alls for Legislative Reform
Rather than focusing solely on the recent vote, Gazay called for changes at the state level to address what he described as structural issues in how compensation is determined.
“I’m calling on our state legislators to fix KRS 64.530,” Gazay said. “Let’s set magistrate salaries like we do the Judge’s—based on population and years of service—so we stop these big, shocking jumps every couple of decades.”
Emphasizes Balance Between Fair Pay and Public Trust
Gazay concluded by acknowledging the importance of magistrates’ roles while also stressing the need for public confidence in local government.
“Magistrates do important work for our county. They deserve fair pay, but our citizens deserve a system they can trust,” he said. “It’s time to modernize the law and restore confidence in local government.”
Ongoing Coverage
The issue continues to draw attention across Morgan County, with differing viewpoints expressed by elected officials, media outlets, and residents.
The Morehead Minute will continue to follow this developing story as additional responses and potential legislative discussions emerge.