DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — Taxpayers in one metro Atlanta county are paying about $16,000 a month to a suspended leader because of a state law requiring compensation until a public corruption case he's involved in is resolved.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/1nGt8av ) reported Monday that, according to county budget documents, DeKalb County residents are paying suspended CEO Burrell Ellis while he's not in office, and are also paying interim county CEO Lee May.

Ellis is accused of pressuring county vendors for campaign donations and has been indicted on more than a dozen charges including theft, extortion and conspiracy. Ellis has denied any wrongdoing.

The county has cut some expenses, jobs and salaries for some employees to compensate for the double payments this year.

Ellis' trial is scheduled to begin in July.

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