Once again the voters of Crenshaw County are asked if they want to reduce the salary of the Probate Judge.

The difference this time is the decision will be left solely to the residents of Crenshaw County.

The Crenshaw County Probate Judge's salary was set by a Constitutional Amendment in 1988 to be that of the District Judge (which is paid by the State).

The Probate Judge is paid by the County and is now approximately $116,500 per year.

This is almost twice as much as the county's sheriff or the Tax Collector/Assessor receives.

Local Amendment 1, on the ballot for November 7th, is to reduce the salary by repealing (canceling) the 1988 amendment.

However, be certain to read the proposal carefully. It is written in a way that could be misleading, and a small survey of voters has already proven this to be true.

It's strange to me that a simple proposal requiring a simple ‘yes' or ‘no' response is written with such excess verbiage (63 words in one sentence).

In reading it, one would very easily skip over the first part of the jargon and only read the latter part of the lengthy sentence.

In doing so, your vote may not be as you intended.

In simple terms, if you agree as I do, then by all means vote &#8220yes” on Local Amendment One to reduce the probate judge's salary.

This one act could possibly put several thousands of dollars back into the county's budget, especially over the next six years.

John Brunson

Luverne, Ala.