Compensation; clerks; reimbursement for expenses.

(a) The Judge of Probate of Escambia County shall be compensated on a salary basis which shall be in lieu of all fees and commissions heretofore paid as compensation to such judge. The amount of such salary shall be the same as that paid to the presiding circuit judge in the county including all county salary supplements. Such salary shall be paid in equal monthly installments in the same manner as other county officials are paid.

(b) The judge of probate is hereby authorized to employ a chief clerk and in addition thereto up to nine clerks to carry out the duties of the office; thereafter, upon authorization of the county governing body, additional clerks shall be appointed by the judge of probate as needed. All such clerks shall serve at the pleasure of the judge of probate.

(c) The judge of probate and the employees of the probate office shall be reimbursed by the county commission for all expenses incurred in the official operation of the office by reimbursement for expenses incurred in an amount not less than the mileage and per diem rate in effect for employees of the State of Alabama at the time the expenses are incurred.

(Act 81-1169, 3rd Sp. Sess., p. 453, §§1-3.)