Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's district attorneys are the only elected officials facing a salary cut after the recent round of across-the-board budget cuts. And they say that's not fair.

County governments pay most of the costs of running their district attorney's office. But the salaries of the DAs themselves are paid by the state.

So when the governor ordered across-the-board cuts in May to combat a $570 million budget hole, Oregon's 36 county prosecutors faced a salary cut they say adds up to more than an entire month's paycheck.

The Oregon District Attorney's Association is asking lawmakers to restore the money.

Marion County DA Walt Beglau says it's a matter of fairness.

Walt Beglau: "We're here to serve in a public safety capacity. We're not in our comfort zone talking about our salaries. But we feel that the argument of what's equitable might resonate."

House Chief Budget writer, Representative Peter Buckley, says restoring DA salary might be part of the discussion at next month's meeting of the Emergency Board, depending on the strength of the next revenue forecast.

Aside from judges, District Attorneys on average make more money than nearly every other elected state official in Oregon including the governor.