KRS 67.705: Qualifications -- Vacancy -- Salary -- Minimum annual compensation --

Exception -- Duties and salaries of judge/executive and magistrates or

commissioners in county containing a consolidated local government.

(1) Each county shall have a chief exe cutive officer known as the county

judge/executive. Only a resident of the county shall be eligible for election as

county judge/executive. He shall be nominated and elected by the qualified voters

of the county in the manner provided by law for the electi on of county officers. In

case the office of county judge/executive becomes vacant by reason of death,

resignation, or removal, it shall be filled with a person appointed by the Governor,

in accordance with Section 152 of the Constitution, for the unexpire d term. The

Governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy in the office of county

judge/executive not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which the vacancy

occurs. If a vacancy occurs in the office of county judge/executive, the remaining

members of fiscal court shall elect one (1) of their members to serve as temporary

county judge/executive until the Governor fills the vacancy in the office,

notwithstanding the provisions of KRS 61.080(2) to the contrary.

(2) The county judge/executive shall receive an annual salary pursuant to the salary

schedule in KRS 64.5275, except in counties that contain an urban -county form of

government or a consolidated local government, where the county judge/executive

shall receive the salary set by the legislative body.

(3) Except in counties containing a consolidated local government, in no event shall the

county judge/executive, justice of the peace, magistrate, or commissioners who

serve on the fiscal court holding office on January 2, 1978, receive less than t he

total annual compensation received by that official during calendar year 1976.

(4) In a county containing a consolidated local government, the county judge/executive

and magistrates or commissioners may have those duties as determined by

ordinance of th e consolidated local government and shall receive a salary as set by

the legislative council of the consolidated local government for those duties.