The Cobb County Board of Commissioners authorized on May 14 the creation of a judicial interpreter position within the Cobb County Superior Court’s Administration Department.

Currently, the court uses interpreting services on a contract basis, according to Cobb Court Administrator Tom Charron in a May 14 memo to County Manager Rob Hosack.

However, due to the increase in the Latin American population in Cobb County, Charron said the courts are “overwhelmed” with requests for Spanish interpreters to translate for those residents involved in civil and criminal court cases as well as hearings held in Magistrate and Juvenile Courts.

It also is necessary to have court documents translated into Spanish for them, he added.

“A full-time interpreter on staff will help alleviate delays in court hearings as well as decrease the reliance on contract interpreters,” Charron said.

This position will become effective with the first pay period in June.

The total salary and benefits for the remainder of the year will be almost $34,129.

There is enough funding within the Superior Court’s Administration Fiscal Year 2019 budget to cover this amount.

The full annual cost of this position, including fringe benefits, is estimated to be around $110,918.

Interpreter fees, which normally are budgeted each fiscal year, now will be redirected to the personnel budget to offset the impact.