Board approves raise for Cooley

The county Board of Supervisors, despite looming budget problems, voted Tuesday to raise the district attorney’s pay by 23%.

The raise will take effect Dec. 1, when the next four-year term for the winner of this year’s district attorney election begins.

So far, incumbent Steve Cooley has reported raising more than $700,000 in campaign funds versus about $23,000 by rival candidate Steven J. Ipsen.

County executives recommended the raise from $236,829 a year to $292,300, saying it would bring the salary into line with those of other county department heads. Currently, the county’s public defender, who oversees a budget half the size of the district attorney’s, is paid slightly more than the D.A.