Public Safety Committee backs new part-time DA office manager and staff pay changes; state covers public-defender salary increases
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Summary
The Public Safety Committee advanced multiple personnel resolutions: creating a part-time office manager in the district attorney's office using one-time discovery-grant money for 2025; approving state-funded salary adjustments for full-time assistant public defenders; and creating a part-time assistant district attorney position at 20 hours per
The Public Safety Committee advanced a package of personnel resolutions affecting the district attorney’s office and public defenders.
District Attorney staff presented a resolution establishing a part-time office manager position to provide day-to-day oversight of administrative functions in the DA’s office. The DA said the office currently has four administrative support staff who report directly to her and that additional management capacity is needed. For the remainder of 2025 the DA said funds would come from a $19,000 discovery grant that had been placed in an “other compensation” line; ongoing funding for the position would be addressed in the 2026 budget process.
The committee also approved a resolution authorizing state-funded salary adjustments for full-time assistant public defenders. Committee discussion noted this is funded by state resources and would bring three full-time criminal public defenders’ salaries to above $100,000, at no cost to the county. A committee member confirmed the public defenders would continue to perform arraignments and receive applicable stipends.
Finally, the committee advanced a resolution to amend the 2025 operating budget to establish a part-time assistant district attorney position (20 hours per week). The DA explained the part-time role would relieve a felony attorney who has town-court responsibilities and that the position would be paid at the same hourly rate as ADAs. For the balance of 2025 the position would be funded by reallocating the first-assistant budget; future funding would be addressed through the 2026 budget. The DA said the part-time appointment could attract candidates who maintain a civil practice outside criminal defense, and that if the office receives sufficient interest it may later convert one full-time position into two part-time positions as a cost-saving measure.
All three resolutions were advanced to the full board.
Ending: The committee recorded votes to move the personnel items to the full board for final action and staff said they would return with any additional budget detail requested by legislators.
