The Cass County Commission voted to authorize a higher starting salary step for a candidate the State’s Attorney’s Office identified as its preferred hire after an extended discussion over pay policy, internal equity and budget impacts.

State’s Attorney Kim Hedvick explained the office faces what she called a nationwide prosecutor vacancy crisis and argued for flexibility to recruit an experienced candidate, Leah Visty, who has roughly 20 years of prosecution experience and 26 years in public service when including other roles. Hedvick asked the commission to approve a starting step higher than the standard entry step; the county’s pay policy allows the commission to approve steps above step 3.

Commissioners debated multiple options, with motions to approve steps 4 and 5 failing for lack of a second or vote. A subsequent motion to approve step 6 carried on roll call (recorded affirmative votes include Commissioners Breitling, Capitan, Grinberg, Vettel and Flacco). Transcript discussion indicated that step 6 would place the new hire among the higher-paid county employees; Hedvick said the department already has budget authority and that hiring the candidate would increase experienced staffing (she argued hiring the candidate would add 26 years of experience compared with two vacancies that combined represented 10 years of experience).

Commissioners also discussed longer-term salary calibration across departments and asked the finance director to review current-year budgets and potential 2026 recalibration. One commissioner requested a broader review of departmental salary needs and underscored a desire for department heads to have tools to run their offices within budget.

The motion approved the higher starting step; commissioners attached a secondary request for a finance review of the staffing and overall budget to report back in mid-November.