[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6530770,"mediaKeyId","3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df","parentId",3639474,"title","Juvenile services budget trimmed as caseloads decline; staff warn of reduced program capacity","audioSeconds",967,"startMs",8281000,"endMs",9248000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df&start=8281&end=9248","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df/thumbnail_8281000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530770/Benton-County/Oregon/Juvenile-services-budget-trimmed-as-caseloads-decline-staff-warn-of-reduced-program-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530770-7b42d34df4ed2ea4113f4ea45ce92881/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948832&Signature=CVMfElwNZR4uYILLfNtPzYr9DIUr9nhDB~tDWagUBxDYVx-53ceUzT0E8Kn2pwbfK0OmvRr66uED4qCyKWWrvlkFg4BbFyf3lqAAlcoNsFAb0foOeroFsG7Kvkoe-wd-hJ48wToiitoUBX2xjUJeEXYgAMlpVYXrnx3D1NF9pY1GNavA9blzOhF03V1mZmH1B3gJPRk5RWc5TpQqg1-6bgqC56GqbgdF7NMNP-YTXe1JcproUL~nwZm7GgPdWsoQYHtg0tB9MivbuBvRIiRxELU7FkRyJ3321qR1ZI2A6BBRcAwp89FZEukGVwySG8uvQF7Q8rhh4j7sLxh6SsAfyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County, OR","date","2025-05-30T21:31:08.777Z","article","The juvenile department told the Budget Committee its 25-27 current-service-level request totals about $6.76 million, up about 17.4% from the prior adopted biennium primarily because of personnel costs (PERS and health insurance). County staff recommended adjustments that reduce the proposed increase to about 10.3%.

Why it matters: The juvenile department supervises youth on formal probation or accountability agreements, runs a work-crew and diversion programs and provides a mental-health screening and short-term counseling capacity. Reductions in staffing or program support can reduce preventive services and increase the chance that youth re-enter the juvenile justice system.

What presenters said
- Caseload trends: Juvenile staff said referrals and managed caseloads have declined over several years (referrals fell from about 214 in 2017 to roughly 84 in 2025; the department reported 67 active cases managed locally at the time of the presentation). Staff attributed the change to a combination of factors and said the lower caseloads supported a smaller staffing footprint.
- Proposed reductions and staffing: County budget adjustments include elimination of one FTE (proposed to be handled via vacancy management where feasible) and an increase in the vacancy factor from 1.8% to 2.5%. Juvenile director Matt Weatherall said the elimination target was chosen to match caseload trends and emphasized the department would attempt to avoid layoffs where possible.
- Program impacts: Staff warned potential cuts would reduce group-based competency development, decrease one-on-one interventions with high-risk youth, reduce peer-support capacity and reduce the department\u0000s financial flexibility to fund programs or quick interventions.
- Work crew and alternatives to incarceration: Juvenile staff described work crew and community service as important sanctions and alternatives. They also stressed limitations: juvenile substance-use treatment providers are sparse in the county and the department often must refer youth to programs in other counties.

Goals and requests
Weatherall listed goals oriented to reducing recidivism: family engagement events, training for staff on specific mental-health needs (autism awareness), and partnerships with local businesses for pro-social and workforce opportunities. He had two small policy requests totaling about $51,939 (one reorganizational request to create a deputy director/program coordinator role and another training request). Budget staff recommended one of the policy packages in reduced form ($26,000) and declined the other training request; Weatherall said some training needs will be met by contract or other reallocated funds.

Committee discussion
Members thanked staff for a cautious approach and for prioritizing noncustodial alternatives. The juvenile director and deputies emphasized that many juvenile matters are handled informally or diverted and that maintaining prevention and treatment access is central to lowering long-term costs.

Ending: Committee members were receptive to the department's efforts to adjust staffing to caseload trends but flagged follow-ups on how reduced training and program capacity might affect recidivism and alternatives to incarceration. No vote occurred at the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-27 Proposed Budget Presentations May 27, 2025 Session 2","oneSentenceSummary","Benton County\u0000s juvenile department presented a $6.76 million current-service-level budget seeking to protect prevention services amid declining caseloads.","taxTitle","Benton County, Oregon","taxId",8787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530780,"Benton County considers cuts, vacancy increases and jail bed changes in sheriff—s budget review",2898,101000,2999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df&start=101&end=2999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6530780/Benton-County/Oregon/Benton-County-considers-cuts-vacancy-increases-and-jail-bed-changes-in-sheriffs-budget-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530780-95ac7de9ad948dcf9ae5389e434700e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948832&Signature=Gr7jJPOJ9bG1BY9pJK5-kBR75kHfHW3GWE4RQGiirm3lFKcVLiL6n6coBArIlbt0HGaBWMcR5kAwpv5aHRy7HXRcfL5c7K2LS7ZcpM2mRZi7KLp3VaKnpP3wd9mWHVre84uOBWvZnIbWnPd0FQx86Z9N2MlPrntG4z1hGIWVz4veLbZAYPObp0DEC5ThT7cRk8YCwHdVJLuQoQTJaLdLyv2lbQsx-D73rTsXQDNvfiJlFN8DCTtmCJwTpT4X4yNcglAiKyj71q08~pXDOwviazGS4WEF5h6sCUBS2ii5gEzjMZM6LEzXzm5zGAUVXfzl4XPkbx0t4FUv0BO03z3rKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County Budget Committee members heard a multi-hour presentation from county administrators and sheriff\u0000s office leaders on a proposed sheriff\u0000s-office budget that county staff described as the largest general fund investment in the county. Rick Krager, assistant county administrator, told the committee the sheriff\u0000s current-service-level budget is about $57.3 million, roughly a 20.4% increase over the 23-25 biennium numbers reported earlier.

The sheriff\u0000s office and county staff said staffing and personal services are the main cost drivers, and that a federal grant supporting a new communications system is producing a one-time spike in capital outlay. Krager noted corrections to numbers in the packet and emphasized the complexity of vacancy-factor calculations: \"on the third bullet that says vacancy factor of 4.6, that is a 3.6,\" he said, adding that an earlier \"average vacancy rate\" line should read 5.1% rather than 6.5%.

Why it matters: the sheriff\u0000s budget is the county\u0000s single largest discretionary outlay. Decisions about vacancy rates, program continuations and where to cut carry direct consequences for patrol coverage, jail operations and community programs such as work crew and jail-based treatment.

County staff outlined both the current-service-level picture and a proposed budget that cuts some costs while keeping most services intact. Krager told the committee the sheriff\u0000s office would try to cover a $2,000,000 vacancy target primarily by managing hiring and retirements rather than involuntary layoffs. Sheriff leadership said maintaining 24/7 patrol and jail coverage is a priority and that cuts would be made with that constraint in mind.

Discussion highlights and proposals
- Vacancy factor: County staff corrected the vacancy numbers and proposed increasing the sheriff\u0000s vacancy factor from 3.6% (current service level) toward 5.1% to achieve savings; sheriff\u0000s leadership urged returning any freed funds to avoid staff reductions. Sheriff: \"I do not want to lose any of my staff,\" he told the committee. The office estimated a $578,000 saving from two deputy-equivalent vacancies if the factor is raised.
- Program and cost shifts: The sheriff and budget staff said capital outlay rose because a federal grant funded communications upgrades; that grant money is one-time and inflates next-year capital costs. Fleet maintenance costs were reported up about 31% (from roughly $691,000 to over $1,000,000), a figure sheriff staff described as unsustainable.
- Jail bed contracting: The sheriff\u0000s office described shifting some contracted jail beds away from Norcor/Linn County toward Clatsop County. Under the Norcor arrangement Benton County had been paying for a block of 20 beds regardless of occupancy; Clatsop County agreed to charge only for occupied beds, and staff said the change should save vehicle, deputy time and maintenance costs because transports will go to a nearer hub in Marion County (Salem) rather than farther destinations.
- Jail-based treatment (MOUD) and the Section 1115 Medicaid waiver: Sheriff staff said the jail\u0000s medication-opioid-use-disorder (MOUD) program is ending when state resources expire; that change removes roughly $300,000 in current spending. Capt. John Devaney told the committee the County had been planning to participate in a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver that would expand Medicaid billing for in-jail treatment, but OHA (Oregon Health Authority) informed sheriffs statewide that implementation is delayed (possibly to 2027). Staff noted capacity-building funds exist but said timing and eligibility for continued use are uncertain.
- Alternatives to incarceration and work crew: The committee heard that the jail-run work crew program provides a commonly used sentencing alternative; parks funding that previously covered half the program has stopped and Republic Services now funds part of it. Sheriff staff and parole/probation sergeants said losing that funding risks reducing a widely used alternative to lockup and could increase jail bookings.

Other operational points
- Parole and probation: The county\u0000s community corrections allocation from the state has fallen; parole/probation staffing was already being managed with frozen positions and vehicle reductions. County staff said the state allocation decreased in both overall pool size (statewide dollars) and Benton County\u0000s percentage share (from 1.22% to 1.14%), producing a potential revenue shortfall of roughly $450,000 under a worst-case scenario.
- Fleet and facilities: Fleet maintenance increases and an aging jail facility were repeatedly flagged as implementation risks; staff said transport distance changes will reduce fuel and vehicle wear.
- Grants risk: Sheriff staff listed multiple federal and state grants that support overtime, emergency-management and specialty positions; they said several grants are uncertain or reduced (for example, a $33,000 cut to the Oregon State Marine Board grant was noted).

What the committee asked and next steps
Committee members pressed about the Clatsop bed agreement (staff said there is no minimum or maximum in the Clatsop arrangement; the county budgeted an average of 12 beds), the reduction in marine grants and whether fleet maintenance is handled by internal public works (it is). Commissioners and committee members encouraged tours of Clatsop and further written detail on transport-cost savings. The sheriff and staff said they will manage the first year of a higher vacancy factor through retirements and not immediate layoffs where possible.

Ending note: The sheriff\u0000s presentation was the longest segment of the afternoon session. Committee members signaled they understood the competing priorities: preserving patrol and jail coverage while acknowledging constrained revenues, uncertain grant support and an aging facility. Formal budget decisions will come later in the committee\u0000s deliberations; the items above reflect discussion and staff recommendations rather than recorded votes.","Benton County Budget Committee members heard a multi-hour presentation from county administrators and sheriff\u0000s office leaders on a proposed sheriff\u0000s-office budget that county staff described as the largest general fund investment in the county.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530760,"Assessor warns of heavy workload during valuation-system conversion and asks for limited reclassifications",456,12472000,12928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df&start=12472&end=12928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df/thumbnail_12472000.jpg","/articles/6530760/Benton-County/Oregon/Assessor-warns-of-heavy-workload-during-valuation-system-conversion-and-asks-for-limited-reclassifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530760-aa1dbda9339b103745a3aba28dd2eb48/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948832&Signature=Sl9~HLy3uu0o9IWrhv4zuKZy8y0hvndMPMgesXhmnTcmE~tPVaEDM9HYBLplVvEnG9PYSSIZ1zUW8pQCFH3eGUWKQQxOodf8Vw~C4Rj5i5a-LKvJgXDWTlXuX5wV0oe0XbxWVSJ-SoAvrwhbkwgeA9wDSD84T0vI85Ixjnre-27roub0ibItRnD0Nu5NRcO922Pd0-rvm5JsJVl~cEIBCjkSJvpwaNku1hEP1iKUFd6wn4oJf7L7oRJ3YleOw1eeZLD93HkU2svBD92ulhFUZOfmJxYDov-4d501YmovyrY~LJpw45MZQfKGiEhZ8ZodQMzi-C-G3Ah-YQqTEP7UUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County\u0000s assessor updated the Budget Committee on a proposed 25-27 assessment budget (about $6.86 million current-service-level) and outlined a multi-part conversion to a new property valuation and tax system that county staff said will be implemented in two phases beginning July 2025.

Why it matters: The assessor\u0000s office values property, maintains tax maps, processes exemptions and coordinates tax-rate/billing functions that fund most county taxing districts. An extended conversion while maintaining legacy systems affects staff workload and could raise short-term maintenance costs.

Key points
- Conversion and dual-system costs: The assessor said the county is converting from two legacy systems into a new combined system (OrCats is the vendor referenced); work begins July 1, 2025 on the tax/accounting piece and valuation conversion starts January 1, 2026. The assessor said the biennium includes overlapping maintenance payments because older systems remain live during conversion; she estimated roughly $250,000 in legacy-system maintenance plus new-system costs during the transition.
- Staffing and succession: The assessor highlighted vacancies and near-term retirements. She said a limited-duration program coordinator was hired internally during the last biennium and that reclassifications and a permanent program coordinator position would help manage conversion projects, data-audit work and omission identification (the assessor cited a recent discovery of an omitted parcel that generated roughly $250,000 of added value). The assessor requested several reclassifications; county staff recommended two of the six requested reclasses in reduced form.
- Appraisal and field work: The department reported it values roughly 40,521 real and personal property accounts and that omitted-value discovery in a recent year added about $320,000 to taxes; the assessor said roughly 1,300 properties had not been inspected in 25+ years and that appraisal capacity is needed to address long-standing omissions.

Committee questions and staff notes
Committee members asked whether assessment data uploads and scanned property jackets would be made publicly available; the assessor said both scanned jackets and tax-card records are intended to be published on the new property-search platform as part of the conversion. Staff noted the department\u0000s workload is substantial and that implementing the conversion while maintaining customer service will be the main near-term challenge.

Ending: The assessor urged the committee to consider the conversion workload and the need for cross-training/reclassification to preserve institutional knowledge; staff proposed limited freezes and recommended two reclassifications to help manage conversion and sustain appraisal capacity. No formal votes were recorded during the presentation.","The county assessor presented a $6.86 million budget tied to a multi-phase conversion to a new property-valuation and tax system and requested reclassifications to support the transition.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530765,"Records and Elections plans modest cuts, seeks permanent coordinator and cross-training to handle elections workload",1147,9974000,11121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df&start=9974&end=11121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df/thumbnail_9974000.jpg","/articles/6530765/Benton-County/Oregon/Records-and-Elections-plans-modest-cuts-seeks-permanent-coordinator-and-cross-training-to-handle-elections-workload","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530765-b0453b3fb3304f98600edab7decb1853/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948832&Signature=RMQ40IL1SWzj7MVo5qvopmNiSf58Ri0UFk5YHGwzNq84korHBo8ZDcvOVJM7pNuKuhWNU05wZTmYvjRn8p9cjTf5z8c4VPR-SXkxRrvhPgCYJbMEBaUPoCfA~uxQB3Jl58RSTRbpUR9L9i1muJVSEU~jlJlu1dFI9Mnx8BJa7hr8vEToM2jRV7kcZP4inD2CWCQ9x2jn2lkQJ8xKcvrWKdFVoT68zNS66KefbUqVMp7SZ1Wg2xk850aZTXddgmdLBXWoREDavSSq8h-BjKUxmiSmES5uxwamNJPeLZMygQDF3FeEbKEWxdv3SgUQarCLckaxcriZgQCu1H9WWC1-hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County Records and Elections Director James Morales outlined a proposed 25-27 budget of roughly $3.98 million (current-service-level), citing personnel costs as the primary driver and a decline in recording fee revenues that reduced dedicated funding for the office.

Why it matters: The clerk\u0000s office manages property records, marriage licenses, dog licensing, passports and elections. Declines in recording revenue affect county general-fund support and the office\u0000s ability to fund systems and temporary election staff.

Presentation highlights
- Revenue mix: Morales and county staff said about 30.37% of the office\u0000s revenues are from dedicated fees (document recording, passport fees and other charges) and that recording activity has fallen in recent years. The resulting revenue shortfall increases the department\u0000s reliance on general fund resources.
- Elections staffing and timing: Morales explained the office depends heavily on temporary and seasonal employees during large elections; budget adjustments include a small reduction in temporary election support that could lengthen ballot processing times and increase workload for full-time staff. He told the committee that final ballot tabulation and public reporting timelines could be slower if temporary staff is reduced.
- Policy packages and succession: Morales requested two policy packages to reclassify three positions and to formally create a deputy director position for records and elections. Budget staff recommended two reclassifications (net recommended increase ~$131,849 across packages as implemented) to solidify cross-training and succession capacity; Morales noted the requested deputy director change would help long-term continuity.
- Passport and marriage services: Morales said the office continues a passport program established during the 2008 budget shortfall and described a new state law that will allow county clerks to delegate marriage ceremony duties to qualified county staff starting January 2026. Morales said that will expand available ceremony slots and better serve residents wanting civil ceremonies.

Operational notes and committee questions
Committee members asked about on-call/seasonal staffing levels, drop-box collection logistics and how remote ballot pick-ups are handled; Morales said a mix of volunteers and paid workers collect drop-box ballots and that staffing levels vary by election. Commissioners also discussed records office co-location with assessor and other departments as a workflow and customer-service improvement.

Ending: County staff recommended modest adjustments and two targeted reclassifications to strengthen operations. Morales said the office would continue evaluating ways to offset recording revenue declines and would pursue cross-training to keep election and record services reliable; no vote was taken during the session.","Benton County clerk presented a proposed records and elections budget focused on maintaining passport, recording and election services amid declining recording revenues; the clerk requested two personnel reclassifications (one transition to deputy director) and described reliance on temporary/seasonal staff for election operations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530775,"District attorney highlights rising workload, vacancies and technology investments in budget pitch",1671,4579000,6250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df&start=4579&end=6250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639474-f8a0a2b7ef0ac593252592c9265186df/thumbnail_4579000.jpg","/articles/6530775/Benton-County/Oregon/District-attorney-highlights-rising-workload-vacancies-and-technology-investments-in-budget-pitch","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530775-a8ba8a243bb8ef1b16289b1b7dd215f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948832&Signature=enkziC5C3gfp6SePHioc14vxEALyV2M1-QFH0rAI9fviOckWE6uy6HC~sNRwSx4gXT4r7gHlQnaZ4UOON82uSWkvDMN74U25RNepXzWBmsvjkRrIuGlLDCReinNPUyChWUDw70GA83fYu1GC0tQTxVtVAZ7bA5c8xAx7DflXR2AOwEpKJ~zAa3u6r-D4b2GYqm8G48vZJAPKQoGEPJ2EL9XGx6djgJc3CYK6uLiRrE177yxy7lco3BIBDtG-HUoGWXp1wAyLtpqqsCcBdkJbMDfEnoxPsbmbwgbf9G7v-ZGAYunMHq2qYC4i~6hoeo8w8DrcUTaUPuKTf4-ver0tJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Benton County district attorney\u0000s office presented its proposed 25-27 budget to the county Budget Committee, describing a $12.3 million current-service-level request driven primarily by personnel costs and new technology costs. County budget staff said the DA\u0000s current-service-level amount is roughly 29% above the 23-25 adopted budget; after proposed adjustments the projected increase falls to about 17.1%.

Why it matters: The DA\u0000s office performs statutorily required duties that include criminal prosecution, juvenile work, death investigations and staffing multi-disciplinary teams. Personnel shortages in prosecutors and support staff can reduce the office\u0000s capacity to handle cases and to provide victim services.

Key points from the presentation
- Personnel and vacancy issues: Budget staff and DA leadership said roughly 76% of the DA\u0000s budget is personnel costs. The office has historically high vacancy rates among deputy district attorneys and paralegals. The proposed budget adjustments include a reduction of 1 FTE and an increase in a vacancy factor (County noted a move from 19.90% to 14%, reflecting management adjustments during the budget process). DA Jocelyn (district attorney) and DA leadership stressed recruiting difficulty, competition with private practice and statewide turnover as ongoing problems.
- Technology and discovery: The office has implemented a digital evidence/discovery platform (AXON Justice/acts on justice) to process digital media and reduce reliance on physical media such as DVDs and thumb drives. Staff said last year their media-processing count was around 3,300 items; the digital platform is an investment expected to create workflow efficiencies but required a sizable upfront investment in the current biennium.
- Investigator position and continuity: The DA said a long-serving part-time investigator (John Shilko) provides significant on-call investigative work on serious crimes and planned retirements raise the question of whether to convert the role from a contract specialist to a full-time FTE plus a county vehicle. The DA said the office is balancing the benefit of a permanent investigator against near-term budget constraints.
- Public-safety examples: The DA described ongoing homicide litigation and emphasized that prosecutor capacity can have downstream public-safety impacts. The DA used a prosecutorial analogy: \"for the want of a nail, a shoe was lost...\" to underline the argument that under-resourcing prosecution can have cascading consequences in severe cases.

Victim and community services
DA staff reported roughly 50,953 victim-services contacts during the prior year covering about 2,700 victims; the office also runs the victim impact panel and supports the Willamette Criminal Justice Council (WCJC). Some revenue for victim services and specialized programs are trust or pass-through funds; these are relatively small shares of the overall budget.

Committee questions and staff responses
Committee members asked about the WCJC trust fund and which jurisdictions contribute; the DA and budget staff explained that the WCJC is a multi-jurisdictional funding pool that pays for a staff position in the DA\u0000s office. Committee members also asked about the stipend and pay for the DA (a state official whose local stipend is set by local process); staff said the stipend is considered in personnel services and will be reviewed by the Citizens Budget Committee for elected-official pay decisions.

Ending: The DA emphasized a mix of recruitment challenges, statutory workload growth and new digital-processing costs as the core drivers of the proposed budget. The office said it will continue to operate at current service levels while seeking to hire into vacant positions, with an emphasis on long-term stability, victim services and trial capacity.","The Benton County district attorney presented an increase in the office\u0000s proposed budget driven by personnel costs, ongoing technology implementation (digital discovery/AXON Justice) and rising statutory responsibilities. The DA\u0000s office cited staffing vacancies, training and a desire to retain prosecutors and investigators as core challenges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Juvenile services budget trimmed as caseloads decline; staff warn of reduced program capacity

Benton County considers cuts, vacancy increases and jail bed changes in sheriff—s budget review

Assessor warns of heavy workload during valuation-system conversion and asks for limited reclassifications

Records and Elections plans modest cuts, seeks permanent coordinator and cross-training to handle elections workload

District attorney highlights rising workload, vacancies and technology investments in budget pitch