Bonner County approves $10,000 sign-on or relocation bonus for prosecutor hires amid staffing shortfall

Bonner County commissioners voted to approve a $10,000 sign-on or relocation bonus for new hires in the prosecuting attorney—s office after hearing that the office is losing staff and struggling to attract applicants.

The action came after the prosecutor told commissioners his chief deputy, Dan Rodriguez, submitted his resignation to join private practice and that several other prosecutors have left or will leave, leaving the office well short of its usual staffing. The prosecutor said the office is supposed to have six criminal deputies and two civil deputies and that, with recent departures and a deployment of one deputy to military service, the office would be down multiple criminal deputies and at least one civil position.

Why it matters: Commissioners and HR staff said Bonner County faces direct competition for entry-level and midcareer attorneys from larger nearby counties and from the state public defender system, which now starts new hires near $90,000 under recent legislative changes. Commissioners and HR staff…