CLAYTON — The St. Louis County Council is considering raising the salary of the county prosecuting attorney to $160,000 a year in two steps, starting in 2011.
Councilman Mike O'Mara, D-Florissant, introduced a bill Monday to increase the salary to $150,000 in 2011 and $160,000 in 2013. St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch, who has been in office since 1991, now makes $135,000. His last raise was in January 2007. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce makes $145,194 a year. McCulloch has been the county's prosecuting attorney since 1991. His current term expires on Jan. 1, 2011

Elected officials cannot receive salary increases during their terms of office. So the increases would not take effect until the new term begins. O'Mara said the 2013 increase would be proper because it would be enacted before the term of office began.  O'Mara said the St. Louis County prosecutor should receive pay comparable to those in similar positions around the United States.  "We've got a quality person" in the office, O'Mara said. "We should maintain quality compensation."  O'Mara's motion is on Tuesday's council agenda.