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Commission directs staff to solicit proposals for county attorney services after proposed fee increase
Summary
Commissioners on Sept. 23 directed staff to issue a request for proposals (RFP/RFQ) for county attorney services after the current county attorney proposed an increase in monthly retainer and hourly rates. Commissioners asked staff to gather comparative rates from peer counties before final contract action.
Jackson County commissioners on Sept. 23 voted to direct staff to solicit proposals for county attorney services following a presentation from the county attorney proposing higher fees.
County Attorney Jordan told the board she proposed increasing the monthly retainer from $1,000 to $1,500 and raising the hourly rate for out‑of‑retainer work from $200 to $275. Jordan said her average monthly hours for the county have fallen in recent months, from roughly 40–50 hours a month to about 10–15 hours, and described how she delegates work to a registered paralegal and law clerks for research and drafting.
Commissioners said they support competitive procurement for some professional services and asked staff to collect comparative rate information from similar counties before the board takes final action on a contract or fee schedule. One commissioner said he supported a competitive process to confirm market rates and ensure fiscal prudence.
A motion to issue a request for proposals (RFP/RFQ) for county legal services was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. Commissioners also asked staff to present comparative rates and to return with recommendations before a contract is executed or renewed.
County Attorney Jordan said the current retainer had not changed since 2018, and that the proposed increases reflected her firm's existing billing structure and the cost of providing substitute coverage when attorneys or law clerks attend meetings.
