Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Personnel Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Osceola County legal assistant asks board for pay increase, county attorney urges interim staffing plan
Summary
Elizabeth, the county legal assistant and victim-witness coordinator, asked supervisors to consider a pay increase or part-time help as interim county attorney duties have increased workload; the board deferred a decision to budget review and will revisit the item next week.
Elizabeth, the Osceola County legal assistant and victim-witness coordinator, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 4 that she is carrying a heavier workload and asked the board to consider a pay increase or additional part-time staff.
"As the only person in, like, the support staff in my office, I came to say to you guys that I feel like I'm not quite getting compensated as fairly as I should," Elizabeth said during the meeting.
County Attorney (unnamed) described the office workload since he has been serving as interim county attorney and urged the board to consider both a salary increase for Elizabeth and hiring part-time help to handle fine collections. "What Elizabeth does every day is incredibly important to the county," the County Attorney said, noting that complex felony cases and frequent court appearances have increased demands on office staff.
Why it matters: Supervisors will set personnel levels and pay in the county budget. The legal assistant role includes victim-witness coordination, scheduling, notifying witnesses, drafting pleadings and managing fine-collection contacts; the County Attorney said those duties have expanded while he serves as interim attorney and during recent major cases.
Details and discussion: Elizabeth said her current pay is about $46,500. She told supervisors she manages trial prep, coordinates with law enforcement and social workers, and administers payment plans for fines as they arise. The County Attorney said fine-collection outcomes are affected when the office is consumed by heavy caseloads and recommended hiring part-time staff dedicated to collections so Elizabeth can focus on victim-witness work.
Board members debated options rather than taking immediate action. Supervisor Schulte said he would like time to think about the request. Supervisor (unnamed) and others said budget season is the appropriate time to set compensation and staffing levels.
No formal vote: The board did not vote on a pay change at the meeting. Supervisors directed that the request be considered during the county budget review and noted the item will likely reappear next week as part of budget discussions.
Funding and alternatives discussed: The County Attorney suggested pursuing a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant or other federal funding to subsidize a victim-witness coordinator portion of a position, and estimated that a part-time collections position might cost roughly $22,000–$30,000 annually, depending on benefits. He also said some counties use part-time or intern help to handle collections and administration.
Next steps: Supervisors said they will review compensation as part of the budget process and revisit the item in the coming week.
