County trims state's attorney personnel raise to 3.5% amid budget uncertainty
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Summary
The Support Services Committee approved the state's attorney budget with a reduced personnel increase of 3.5%, down from a larger request aimed at closing a pay gap with the public defender's office. Members cited a general-fund shortfall and competing priorities.
The Support Services Committee on Sept. 10 approved the state's attorney budget for fiscal 2026 with a personnel increase reduced to 3.5%, after discussion about county budget constraints and competing requests. The amended budget passed the committee by a 3–2 vote.
State's Attorney (presenter) asked the committee to restore parity between assistant state's attorneys and assistant public defenders and sought a personnel increase that equated to $32,775.50 by comparing local prosecutor pay to nearby counties. "I'm persisting in this request anyway," the state's attorney said, arguing the increase would protect public safety and reflect parity with neighboring counties.
Committee members pressed on how to pay for the increase. A finance staff estimate presented during the meeting said the general fund currently shows about a $117,000 deficit for 2026. Board members discussed options including moving levy allocations and reassigning transfers to cover personnel requests. One member noted that other established obligations — including a recent veterans assistance request and union contract increases — limit available capacity in the general fund.
A motion to reduce the state's attorney personnel request to a 3.5% increase carried. The committee then voted to approve the state's attorney budget as amended; the motion to approve was recorded as made by Mister Adley and seconded by Mister McKenna. The committee recorded the outcome as approved (vote tally, 3 yes, 2 no).
The state's attorney told the committee that the office has six prosecutor positions (one first assistant plus six assistant prosecutors total) and said the starting salary cited during the discussion was $68,000. She also noted an existing three‑year Violence Against Women grant of about $40,000 that currently offsets some costs but may not be ongoing.
Committee members requested that, if the amended budget passes through final county-level review and additional revenue or reallocation becomes available, the county revisit the personnel request later in the budget cycle.