Judge Stanley Welsh O'Connell, the Grand County justice court judge, presented her proposed 2026 budget and asked the board to include funding for interpreter services and to clarify whether the county's tuition-reimbursement policy applies to her position.

In her presentation the judge said salaries and benefits in the draft budget do not yet include a cost-of-living adjustment and requested that any county-wide adjustment for employees also apply to the judge under Utah Code 78A-7-206(1). She asked that performance- or cost-of-living increases that the county grants to employees be extended to the judge's salary as provided by that statute.

On services and supplies, the judge said the interpreter-services line has already exceeded the current draft budget for the year and asked for an increase in the professional-services/interpreter line to reflect actual costs; she said last year's actuals for interpreter services were roughly $6,205 and the current draft had a lower number (~$3,010), and that invoices can lag by a month. She also requested a modest increase for witness and juror fees and requested two device replacements (a desktop and a laptop) per the county IT rotation.

The judge also raised a tuition-reimbursement request tied to her pursuing a bachelor's degree and future law school study. Board members discussed county policy and whether the judge is eligible: staff and commissioners noted the judge is appointed and subject to retention elections, and that Grama (Grand) County policy language describes "elected" positions in a way that has led to ambiguity. Board members agreed to place an item on the county commission agenda to clarify HR policy and, if needed, backdate any commission action to cover approved reimbursements. No formal vote was taken on tuition reimbursement at this meeting.

Ending: Board members asked staff to clarify HR policy and to add a commission agenda item so HR can determine whether tuition reimbursement is appropriate and whether any prior semester reimbursement can be authorized; no budget line was amended at this meeting.