JONESBORO — During a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2024 Clayton County Board of Commissioners budget on June 13, District Attorney Tasha Moseley argued for an extra $1 million to increase starting salaries.
“I have had four (assistant district attorney) positions open for well over a year,” she said. “My guys deserve it. It’s not just me trying to throw money. They have earned this. They have earned the help. That’s all I’m asking — to be able to compensate my ADAs close to what everybody else is getting.”
The current starting salary for a Clayton County ADA is more than $66,000 — which lags other jurisdictions.
Here are some starting salaries for some other jurisdictions, according to Moseley — about $90,000 for Cobb and Gwinnett counties, $85,000 for DeKalb County, $81,000 for Fulton County, $80,000 for Houston County and Macon-Bibb, $70,000 for Henry County, and $60,000 for Hancock County (one of the poorest counties in the state).
Moseley is asking to raise starting salaries for ADAs to about $75,000 to $76,000.
“I’m getting killed,” Moseley said. “I’m getting slaughtered. My ask is minimum. My guys bust their behinds — they do an excellent job. We had three murder convictions last week — that doesn’t count the pleas. My juvenile division is doing an excellent job. I need help.”
Moseley said because of the starting salaries, her office is losing potential candidates.
“Last week, we offered a young lady a job — and great prosecutor — and she says ‘I cannot take a 20 to 25 thousand pay cut’,” Moseley said. “Two weeks ago before that we offered a job — the same response.”
Moseley also said she has had to restructure her office because of the vacancies.
“We need people — qualified people — to come in and help because crime has not stopped,” Moseley said.
Recently, the Solicitor General’s…
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