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Montezuma County DA asks commissioners to budget for full staffing as state raises DA, ADA salaries
Summary
The district attorney told commissioners the office needs budget changes to reflect six full-time attorneys and statutory increases to the district attorney and assistant district attorney salaries, and warned grant reductions have cut other funding streams.
The District Attorney told the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners on the record that the office’s true operating cost with six attorneys is about $1.2 million and asked the board to reflect that figure in next year’s budget.
That request matters because, the DA said, “our budget was only 1,050,060… We did spend the 1.2.” He asked the commissioners to consider covering roughly an additional $150,000 so the office’s 2026 budget “truly reflect[s] that 1.2 as our budget.”
The DA framed the request as partly a response to two recent changes from the state: a statutory increase to the district attorney salary and a newly created assistant district attorney (ADA) salary. He said the DA salary will be set “equivalent of a district court judge” and the ADA “equivalent of the county court judge,” with the state contributing a portion of those amounts. “It’s 80% from the state for the DA and 25% from the state for the ADA,” he said, describing changes made during the legislative process.
Why it matters: the DA office reports it has been understaffed in prior years and used staffing gaps to avoid asking the county for additional funds. The speaker said the office has been operating with fewer attorneys at times and that hiring and retaining a full complement affects its ability to handle caseloads, diversion, and victim-witness services.
The DA also told the commissioners the office has seen sizable grant reductions. “We had, over $200,000 in grants, and we have around a $100,000 now,” he said, noting a lost federal grant reduced revenue and forced the office to eliminate or cut positions. He said the office is pursuing new grant opportunities to offset county costs and that programs such as the diversion unit and victim-witness unit are largely grant-funded.
The DA recommended commissioners consider how the county will provide the additional local share for the higher statutory salaries and for restoring full staffing levels. He also noted the practical matter of timing and cashflow if the county chooses to provide a one-time transfer vs. increased quarterly disbursements.
Ending: Commissioners heard the request and discussed budget placement; no formal vote occurred during the workshop. The DA said he will continue to work with county administration on how to show the $1.2 million operating baseline in the recommended budget and on timing for any transfers or ongoing increases.
