They get paid how much?

Joe Deters may have a lot of explaining to do when he gets home tonight.
Deters, an attorney, is Hamilton County's Prosecutor -- and that government's highest-paid elected official.

"Don't you dare print my salary," Deters said.

"I've been telling (wife) Missy I make $65,000 a year," he said before chuckling. He actually earns $118,158.

Deters edges out Coroner O'Dell Owens, a medical doctor, as the highest-paid, non-judicial elected official in Hamilton County. His salary is $113,358.

The lowest-paid Hamilton County elected official is Recorder Rebecca Groppe at $68,186 annually.

Ohio law mandates how much each elected official is paid. Those salaries have been updated for 2006.

Hamilton County's other elected, non-judicial officials and their 2006 annual salaries are:

• Prosecutor -- $118,158
• Coroner -- $113,358
• Engineer Bill Brayshaw -- $99,696
• Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann -- $96,395.75
• Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. -- $95,975
• Auditor Dusty Rhodes -- $90,279
• Commissioner Phil Heimlich -- $83,287
• Commissioner Todd Portune -- $83,287
• Commissioner Pat DeWine -- $83,287
• Recorder -- $68,186

Judges are paid by both the county and the state.
Here are the combined annual salaries of Hamilton County judges:

• Municipal Court -- $109,150.
• Common Pleas, Probate, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court -- $116,110