Arkansas' prosecutors are asking an independent panel to raise their salaries about 23 percent, arguing their pay should be more closely tied to what judges currently receive.
Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney Association President Larry Jegley on Thursday told the Independent Citizens Commission the group was recommending increasing prosecutors' salaries from $123,162 a year to $152,000. That would make their salaries 95 percent of what the state's circuit judges receive.
The commission was formed by a voter-approved constitutional amendment last year to review and adjust salaries for the state's top elected officials. The seven-member panel earlier this year more than doubled legislators' salaries and granted substantial raises to constitutional officers and judges.
The Legislature in March voted to allow the commission to also set salaries for prosecutors.