(a) It has come to the attention of the Legislature that the present compensation of the circuit judges and District Attorney for the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit is somewhat below the average of that being paid to circuit judges and district attorneys in other judicial circuits in this state which have considerably lighter caseloads than the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit. Therefore, the Legislature intends through this section to provide that the compensation of the circuit judges and the District Attorney of the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit shall hereafter be consistent with that paid to circuit judges and district attorneys in similar judicial circuits in this state.

(b) Beginning October 1, 1987, all circuit judges and the District Attorney for the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit shall receive a county salary supplement in an amount, as hereinafter prescribed, which shall be in lieu of any and all other county salary supplements and expense allowances heretofore provided by law for such judges and district attorney. The total amount of such county salary supplement for such judges and district attorney shall be twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per annum payable in equal monthly installments from the general fund of the county containing the judicial circuit. Provided, however, that the payment of the full amount twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) of such salary supplements on October 1, 1987, shall be conditioned upon the county's ability to pay such supplements as determined by the county commission from revenue projections and budget analyses. If the county commission deems that the county cannot afford to pay the full amount twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) of such salary supplements beginning October 1, 1987, then, the county commission shall phase in such salary supplements over a three-year period as follows:

It is the intent of this section that by October 1, 1989, that the total amount of the county salary supplements provided by this section for circuit judges and the District Attorney of the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit shall be twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per annum. Provided further, that the county commission may pay the full twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per annum supplement at any time they feel county finances can afford same.