Attorneys used by Butler County Children and Youth Services will receive 27 percent pay hikes this year.

The county commissioners Wednesday approved new contracts that increase their monthly rate from $3,333 to $4,250.

The new rates for the two guardian ad litems, who represent the best interests of children in juvenile court dependency hearings, are retroactive to Jan. 1.

County Commissioner Jim Eckstein explained the new contracts correct a dual-billing issue.

While attorney Sue Lope was only paid by CYS, attorney Ron Thomas was paid by CYS and $60 an hour by county court for work done on cases that moved to Orphan’s Court.

Thomas received nearly $29,000 in 2014 for Orphans’ Court work.

“She didn’t want to overcharge the county,” Eckstein said. “We’re trying to correct this inequity.”

Eckstein stressed Lope would receive more money while Thomas would get less under the new contracts because he can’t bill the court anymore.

Joyce Ainsworth, director of county human services, said in an interview there was no inequity.

“We’re clearing up the ambiguities,” Ainsworth said.

She said the contracts expand the attorneys’ duties.

“We’re asking more of them,” Ainsworth said.

She said the attorneys will be required to spend more time on cases, including when they move to Orphans’ Court.

Ainsworth said Eckstein was mistaken in disputing when those rates were last increased.

According to Ainsworth, the last pay increase for guardian ad litems was in 1994.

She said Eckstein mixed up those posts with court-appointed attorneys’ who represent the children’s’ parents.

Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, confirmed court-appointed attorneys received increases in 1999 and 2011, raising the rate to $50 an hour and $60 an hour, respectively.

During the meeting Wednesday, Eckstein asked if Commissioner Dale Pinkerton would consider abstaining from the vote because Ron Thomas is married to Pinkerton’s administrative assistant, Maria Thomas.

Pinkerton did not abstain, and the new contracts were unanimously approved.

County solicitor Mike English said there was no conflict for Pinkerton to cast a vote.

English later said a conflict of interest infraction occurs under state ethics law when an action benefits an elected official or his immediate family, which isn’t the case here.

“I don’t believe Commissioner Pinkerton voting constitutes a violation,” English said.

During the meeting, Eckstein criticized CYS director Charlie Johns for not providing enough information when first presenting the contracts for approval last month.

“It says nowhere on this we’re trying to correct an injustice,” Eckstein said.

Johns said he did what he was supposed to do — present proposed contracts.

Ainsworth later defended Johns, saying CYS had nothing to do with the extra money paid to Ron Thomas.