In an independent investigation and report done by The Atlanta Press, a Fulton County Court Clerk with a questionable track record has found a legal loophole to more than double her base annual income.
Fulton County's Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts, Cathelene "Tina" Robinson, is estimated to have earned close to $500,000 in income in 2021, although her annual salary from Fulton County is only about $150,000 per year.
So how did Clerk Robinson earn the additional income?
According to sources obtained by the Atlanta Press, Clerk Robinson is making about an extra $360,000 on top of her six-figure salary through the fees her employees earn from processing passports. However, county employees under the clerk do not receive any additional compensation according to records.
When The Atlanta Press asked for the public records of Clerk Robinson's reported additional income, the records were not immediately made available.
However, after time the records were provided and when questioned by The Atlanta Press, Fulton County Vice Chairman Bob Ellis was quoted to say, "It is my understanding that the fees collected and retained by Fulton Court Clerk Tina Robinson resulted in additional annual personal compensation of $360,000 in 2021, alone,"
How is this possible?
In Georgia, it is legal for clerks of superior courts and probate court judges to pocket passport application and processing fees as part of their personal income, in addition to their base salary. The processing fee is $35 per passport.
These new reports are being highly scrutinized by several of Clerk Robinson's peers and constituents.
More information on these practices will be coming in the weeks ahead.
