This report is from the San Bernardino County 2006-2007 Final report. I dug a little more and found the County response on the Grand Jury recomendations. It's at the bottom of this page.This goes back to 1997, when the judges became State employees, yet the County keeps paying out $19,371.56 per year per judge in benefits. The Grand Jury asked in 2002-2003 why the County kept paying the benefits and again in 2006-2007. This for the County employees trying to get a fair contract with the Board of Supervisors, ask about the Judges benefits paid by the County even though the Judges are State employees. "The County sees no reason at this time to amend the agreement."

JUDICIAL BENEFITS BACKGROUND
In 1992 Municipal and Justice Courts in the County were merged. In recognition of the merger, the Board of Supervisors equalized the benefits paid to those County Judges.
In 1997, a second consolidation took place when the State of California enacted the Trial Court Funding Act of 1997 (SB 223) which abolished the Municipal Courts and declared the Municipal Court Judges were, henceforth, Superior Court Judges. This act also provided that all Judges are employees of the State of California and no longer County employees.
In 2000, The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors enacted Resolution 2000-190 that allocated $1.3 million to the Court for costs associated with locally authorized judicial benefits for “eligible” judges, and there were 63 “eligible” judges at that time.
The 2002-2003 Grand Jury questioned why the Board of Supervisors continued to authorize the payment of $19,371.56 per year to every San Bernardino County Judge since they were now employees of the State of California.

FINDINGS
Superior Court Judges are State employees and their salary is set by the State legislature and paid by the State of California (AB 223, Chapter 850, Statutes of 1997). Superior Court Judges are appointed by the Governor of California or elected by the residents of the County. The Governor can appoint persons to the San Bernardino Superior Court who are not residents of the County. County “judicial benefits” are not a major factor in the acceptance of an appointment to a judgeship. Many counties offer no judicial benefits.
The County Counsel in two separate legal opinions, one on September 22, 2000, and one on April 21, 2003, questioned whether judges can legally participate in County sponsored benefit programs.
In 2000, 63 “eligible” judges were collecting County benefits. Today, 83 “eligible” judges receive County benefits of $19,700 per year.There are presently five judicial vacancies on the San Bernardino County judicial bench and the State of California has authorized 16 additional judicial positions for the County of San Bernardino.
In 1997, the salary of a Superior Court Judge was $108,000. Today, the salary of a Superior Court Judge is $171,000. This is a 63% increase.
The 2003-2004 Grand Jury reported on what other Southern California counties paid judges as judicial benefits. Their findings were as follows:
• Alameda Paid $1,350 per judge annually for a cafeteria plan. A total cost of $150,000 for 69 judges.
• Fresno Paid $1,121.42 per judge for health insurance and $92.56 for a life insurance policy
• Riverside  Paid a car allowance, deferred compensation and life insurance policy.
• San Diego Paid no county benefits for 128 judges.
• Santa Barbara Paid no county benefits for 19 judges.
• Santa Clara Paid for a $25,000 life insurance policy for 79 judges.
• San Bernardino  Paid county benefits of $19,371.56 per judge. A total of $1,607,839 for 83 judges.
The current San Bernardino County benefit is $19,700 per judge. A total of $1,635,100 for 83 judges. An expected total of $1,950,300 for 99 judges. (San Bernardino is authorized 16 additional judges).
The cost of living in San Bernardino County is less than many other Southern California counties. For example, the median home prices are substantially less. In March 2007, the median home prices in Southern California counties were as follows:
• Los Angeles $540,000
• Orange $629,000
• Riverside $420,000
• San Diego $490,000
• Ventura $566,750
• San Bernardino $369,000
• So. California $505,000

The median home prices in San Bernardino County are the lowest in Southern California, yet San Bernardino County pays substantially more in judicial benefits than other Southern California counties.
RECOMMENDATIONS
07-45 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DISCONTINUE OR REDUCE THE JUDICIAL BENEFITS PAID TO PRESENTLY APPOINTED OR ELECTED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES.
07-46 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOT PAY ANY JUDICIAL BENEFITS TO ANY NEW JUDGE APPOINTED OR NEWLY ELECTED AFTER JULY 1, 2007.