A proposal by Denton County Judge Mary Horn to cut court reporter salaries almost in half was soundly defeated after heavy opposition at Tuesday's commissioners meeting. Denton County court reporters earn a base salary of $80,778 a year, which puts their earnings in the top 10 percent in the country for that position. Ms. Horn's proposal would have saved the county between $348,000 and $600,000 in the coming fiscal year – a huge help in a tight budget season, she said. "I know court reporters out there applying for much lower-paying jobs than $44,197 a year, plus benefits," Ms. Horn said. "They [Denton County court reporters] are great people. They've been dedicated employees for years. But in my opinion, they're overpaid." Court reporters provide transcripts of the legal proceedings of county and district courts, through stenotyping and voice recordings.