County attorney reveals crisis in staffing and funding

In a recent government meeting, an attorney manager from the county counselor's office highlighted the severe impacts of understaffing and inadequate funding on municipal prosecution and risk management teams. Currently, the office is managing approximately 40,000 municipal ordinance cases annually with only three attorneys, despite a need for five to maintain effective operations. This shortage forces attorneys to work extensive hours, often sacrificing personal time to keep up with a caseload that sees 2,000 to 3,000 new cases each month.

The attorney detailed the extensive responsibilities of their team, which include case reviews, court appearances, and interactions with victims and defendants. With only 10 hours a week available for essential tasks after court commitments, the quality of case management is at risk. The attorney expressed concern that the current budget does not reflect the additional workload absorbed from the Department of Administration, particularly in risk management, where only one of four necessary positions is filled.

The counselor's office has processed over 500 claims this year, including workers' compensation and liability claims, but the lack of adequate staffing is hindering their ability to respond effectively and manage litigation. The attorney manager emphasized that without a modest increase in funding for additional staff, the office's ability to serve the county efficiently will continue to decline, impacting both the legal process and personal lives of the attorneys involved.