As the newly passed state budget continues to be digested, one aspect may or may not appeal to voters, especially those caught in their own personal budget crunches.

County officeholders will get raises thanks to the state legislators who did not vote to give themselves a similar pay boost. Most of these pay raises will start in 2017, the first year of the new term for all county officeholders. The exception focuses on the judges, who will get their raises within 90s days after the law was signed.

The flat across-the-board hike is 5 percent. The only variable is the number of years the individual will get the raise. Again the judges will receive their pay hikes for the longest period — every year for the next four starting after the 90-day period. The sheriff and prosecutor will also get the pay hike for four years, but not until 2017.

The remaining officeholders will get the five percent for only two years or for years 2017 and 2018.

The lion’s share of these raises will have to come out of the county’s general fund. Once more the exception is with the judges. The majority of their salaries comes from the state. Only $1,241 per judge comes out of the general fund.

Currently, salaries for county officeholders are as follows starting with the highest paid positions: Common pleas and probate judges at $121,350; Ironton Municipal judge at $114,100; Engineer at $90,174; Sheriff at $69,372; Auditor at $68,390; Lawrence County Municipal judge at $67,150; Prosecutor with private practice at $64,761; Clerk of courts at $59,866; Commissioners at $55,524; Treasurer at $53,214; Recorder at $50,203; and Coroner at $41,165.