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DUCHESNE, Utah (AP) -- Duchesne County Attorney Cleve Hatch has submitted his resignation in a flap over his pay raise.
In January, he was to receive a 5 percent pay increase -- $3,120 more a year, the lowest raise for any elected official in the county. He had asked for an $11,700 boost.
County commissioners, who set his increase, are to get an 8.6 percent raise or $3,129 more a year.
In September, Hatch met with commissioners to seek a pay increase for his two deputy county attorneys, his receptionist, the county victim's right advocate coordinator and himself.
He told commissioners that after one year on the job, he simply could not afford to keep working for the county at his current salary.
His raise request would have brought his salary from $60,800 to $72,500 -- an amount that would have brought him up to the average paid to attorneys in counties with similar populations.
Commission Chairman Larry Ross declined to comment on why Hatch was not given a larger raise or how the county would deal with his decision to leave.
Hatch's resignation is effective Dec. 31. He said he plans to go return to private practice and will soon open an office in Vernal.
Before winning the 2002 election, Hatch had a private office in Roosevelt, which he still maintains.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
