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City solicitor: law department budget trimmed; attorney retention improves after charter change
Summary
The law department asked for $2.9 million for FY2026, down about 1.4% from FY2025, as staffing stabilized and outside counsel needs were managed within the proposed legal‑fees allocation.
The law department presented a FY2026 proposed budget of $2,900,000, a slight decrease from the current year that officials said reflects reduced outside legal fees and completed office upgrades. OMB analyst Robert Jones told the finance committee the department’s personal‑services budget rose marginally for cost‑of‑living adjustments while the overall request is down about 1.4% because the department removed a vacant legal assistant position.
City Solicitor Robert Gough told council that recruiting and retaining attorneys had been a chronic challenge but that recent policy changes have stabilized staffing. “Good lawyers stay in their job and the city benefits,” Gough said, noting a compensation study and a…
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