Pulaski County prosecutor requests 5% staff raises and outlines rising jury workload

Kelly Gomer, the Pulaski County prosecutor, told the county commissioners on the record that her 2026 budget request centers on a 5% pay increase for office staff and the investigator assigned to the office. "My biggest increase is the 5% raises that we're requesting on behalf of the office staff investigator," Gomer said during the budget hearing.

Gomer said most line items remain unchanged from the current year but noted several adjustments: a subscription technology cost tied to digital evidence (described in the meeting as an Elbright technology joint with the sheriff's office), an evidence budget adjustment because of changes in how items are sent to outside labs, and a reduction of a previously budgeted adult protective services line once that work moved out of the prosecutor's office. "Everything else essentially stayed the same," she said.

The prosecutor also addressed several program funds she manages. She described the pretrial diversion fund balance (reported in the hearing as "thousand $7" as of the ninth of the month) and said summer interns have been paid from that fund; she asked for additional support because of part‑time staffing changes. On Title IV (child support) work, Gomer said she requested a 5% increase and a modest postage increase tied to case work.

Gomer described a sustained heavy workload of jury trials in Pulaski County. She provided year‑by‑year counts: she said she tried three jury cases in the final months after arriving in July 2022; in 2023 she recorded 19 jury trials (with the transcript indicating a mix of outcomes); in 2024 there were 14 jury trials (she said she won 12 and lost two); and in 2025 she reported 12 jury trials to date with a 9–3 record. "It is my obligation and my commitment to this community is that when the judge sets a trial date, that I'm ready to go," Gomer said, adding that readiness increases workload without additional pay.

Gomer told commissioners she has seen turnover in public defenders, which she said affects plea negotiations and contributes to more trials. She listed multiple public defenders who have worked in the county since she arrived and said that turnover disrupts continuity in case handling.

During questioning commissioners asked about specific fund balances and fee splits for court costs and clerk fees; Gomer said she had not looked up some amounts on the spot but offered to provide the figures. She also described the OCA/GRAMA grant fund cycle and why two funds appear concurrently while a grant finishes its cycle.

The meeting record does not show a final vote on the prosecutor's full budget; commissioners and staff continued discussion and budgeting later in the meeting.

Gomer concluded by asking commissioners for guidance on measures that might reduce the county's jury‑trial load; she said she has tried different strategies and consulted with other prosecutors but has not seen a reduction.

Ending: Gomer closed her presentation after commissioners' questions and moved on to other departmental budget items.