Kendall County’s general counsel budget and staffing needs were a major focus at the June 12 budget workshop, as commissioners weighed hiring a second in‑house attorney against continued use of outside counsel.

County officials told the court that the county spent roughly $190,399 on outside counsel so far this fiscal year. County Legal/General Counsel staff said the county historically budgeted legal contingency within the commissioners’ contingency lines but has moved $500,000 into the general counsel budget to allow the office to hire outside counsel quickly for matters under set dollar caps.

Several commissioners expressed concern about the high hourly rates charged by outside firms. “If you have someone working here, we get 52 weeks of service,” one commissioner said, comparing the cost of an in‑house attorney (with salary, benefits and 52 weeks of service) to outside counsel at $400 per hour. County staff cautioned that outsourcing specialty work may still be necessary and that a mix of in‑house capacity plus outside specialty counsel may be prudent.

Commissioners debated whether to add an assistant general counsel position and whether hiring an additional in‑house attorney would save money over time. Corinna, the county auditor, noted that adding any full‑time employee carries a benefits cost roughly equal to 20–30% of salary.

The court voted in a prior session (outside of this workshop transcript) to reduce overall legal contingency from prior years; at the workshop staff said the $500,000 remaining in general counsel was intended to be available for legal needs and that moving the line to general counsel speeds engagements under a $50,000 threshold without returning to the full court.

Ending: Commissioners left the general counsel allocation in place for the coming year but asked staff to return with clearer cost comparisons of hiring in‑house attorneys versus continuing (or increasing) outside counsel engagements before any formal new hire was approved.