NORWICH – Per a mandate from the New York State Legislature, Chenango County lawmakers last week approved a salary increase for district attorney by a vote of 19 to 4.

The amount, which will escalate over three years from $120,000 to $152,500, is commensurate with the salary set by the Legislature for judges and justices of the Unified Court System. What’s different is the state picks up the justices’ increase, but counties must afford the lion’s share of full-time district attorneys’ compensation.

Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law, who voted against the resolution, led a charge against approving the mandate, saying the 2012 budget was already in place, that the salary would be “extremely high for this district” and should have fallen within the state-mandated 2 percent cap on property tax increases. Law requested a letter from the board to state representatives opposing the increase.

“I’m tired of all these done deals all the time. It’s time we take a stand,” he said.

Supervisor Jerry Kreiner, R-Plymouth, supported Law’s letter, but went further, suggesting that the state’s legislature amend or change judicial law that requires district attorneys to receive equal compensation to judges. Kreiner also suggested Chenango County return to a part-time district attorney, and thereby avoid the mandate.