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County approves $62,250 to staff courtroom clerk; amount moved into September supplement
Summary
The County Budget Board approved funding to cover nine months of salary and benefits for a courtroom clerk for a new judge beginning Sept. 15, 2025. The board initially approved a transfer from general fund reserve, then voted to include the amount in the board's September supplemental appropriation instead.
The County Budget Board approved funding of $62,250 to cover nine months of salary and benefits for a courtroom clerk needed for a judge who begins Sept. 15, 2025. The board first voted to transfer the amount from the general fund reserve, then later clarified that the $62,250 will be included in the board's September supplemental appropriation rather than taken immediately from reserves.
Board members and staff said the clerk position is required when the judge takes the bench and that the $62,250 figure covers the remainder of the current fiscal year. County staff described the position as a clerk assigned to the new judge and said the clerk would likely be filled by moving an existing employee into that role and backfilling the vacated position as needed.
The matter drew questions about staffing levels and vacancy savings. One board member noted that departments frequently have turnover that creates temporary salary savings and asked staff to track vacancy-related savings and backfill timing. County staff said they would provide FTE (full-time equivalent) counts and vacancy data to help the board assess whether hiring now will create midyear budget pressure.
The board recorded two formal actions. First, members moved and seconded a transfer from the general fund reserve to the court clerk's budget for $62,250; the motion passed. At a later point in the meeting the board voted to change the mechanics of that funding: a majority motion to include the same $62,250 in the September supplemental appropriations recommendation passed, and the clerk position funding will be processed through that supplement rather than a direct reserve transfer. The board directed staff to reflect that change in the supplement paperwork.
Board members said they prefer to track annualized amounts and requested that the $62,250 be flagged for future years' budgeting: the full, annualized cost for a courtroom clerk was discussed as roughly $83,000 and board members asked staff to note the difference on the watch list so next year's budget can account for the ongoing increase if the position is retained.
No statutes, ordinances, or other legal authorities were cited in the discussion.
The board's funding decision allows the court to provide a clerk when the judge starts Sept. 15; staff will return supplemental appropriation documents to the budget board for formal processing at the scheduled supplement action.
