Community, law enforcement urge Weston County commissioners to preserve county attorney budget

Weston County commissioners heard more than an hour of public comment Wednesday urging them to retain funding for the county attorney's office after a proposed budget showed cuts that would remove roughly one deputy-level position.

The appeals came during a budget workshop where County Attorney Michael Stulkin and members of his office outlined caseloads, staffing and reimbursements; residents, law-enforcement leaders and victim advocates described the office's recent work and the possible effects of shrinking its staff.

Speakers said the proposed cuts would reduce prosecutorial capacity and shift work to already overstretched staff, potentially leaving some offenses unprosecuted. "If you want to continue to work towards having a safer community as possible, I would encourage you to reconsider the budget," Brian, a county law-enforcement official, told the commission. "I've never seen anything like it in the 26 years of my career in Weston County," he added of the county attorney's recent performance.

Why it matters: County attorneys prosecute criminal cases, advise law enforcement on investigations and handle civil matters for the county. Supporters told commissioners that cutting one full salary line could force the office to prioritize or defer prosecutions and civil duties, with knock-on effects for victims, probation and county services.

What presenters told the commission - County Attorney Michael Stulkin said reimbursements reduce the county's net cost: roughly half of his office's salaries and certain positions are partially reimbursed by the State of Wyoming or other sources. He noted $91,500 in reimbursements and that about $65,000 of certain costs were covered by state and federal funds. - Stulkin and staff provided caseload figures to illustrate demand: in 2025 to date they reported 11 district-court criminal filings and 11 juvenile filings; in fiscal 2023-24 they recorded 46 district-court filings, 152 criminal cases in circuit court and more than 1,400 citations in circuit court proceedings. - Stulkin warned that cutting $55,200 from deputy salaries corresponds to eliminating a deputy-level position and would leave the office "hanging on a string" during felony trials when staff are out of the office.

Public testimony - Joe Baron, county attorney in Sundance, Wyoming, and a longtime regional prosecutor, told the commission that outsourcing prosecutions to private counsel would be far more expensive than maintaining a staffed county office and that small counties face recruitment challenges. - Janice Lynch, district manager for the Wyoming Department of Corrections (probation and parole), said the office's advice is crucial for post-conviction supervision and that late-night consultations with the county attorney are part of public-safety decision-making. - Sandy Stevens, director of a domestic-violence program, said her organization has seen improved prosecution and increased victim confidence since the current county attorney's office staff took cases and proposed withdrawing a funding request to help preserve the attorney's staffing. - A victim who identified herself by first name read a written statement describing a multi-year prosecution and credited the county attorney's office: "I simply could not have accomplished this without the unwavering services of Michael Stulkin, Jeanne Stone, Brooklyn Weigel and Stephanie Martinez."

Discussion versus decisions Commissioners did not take a binding vote during the workshop. The session recorded discussion of budget numbers, reimbursements and program priorities; several speakers asked the commission to reconsider proposed personnel reductions. No formal direction or amendment was recorded in the transcript excerpts provided.

Clarifying details from testimony - Proposed cut: about $55,200 in deputy salary lines (witnesses said this equates to one deputy-level position). - Reimbursements: speakers cited roughly $91,500 in state/federal reimbursements not reflected in the county-only budget presentation and roughly $65,000 in other reimbursements; speakers said some salaries are partially reimbursed by the State of Wyoming. - Caseloads: 11 district-court criminal filings and 11 juvenile filings reported for 2025 to date; 46 district-court filings in FY2023-24; 152 criminal cases in circuit court and over 1,400 citations in the same period.

What supporters recommended Public commenters recommended preserving the office's current staffing and budget, warning that reductions would increase workload for remaining staff, reduce time for victim services and risk leaving the county unable to prosecute complex cases.

Next steps No formal action was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. Commissioners signaled that the budget workshop was ongoing; the county attorney and community members asked to remain engaged as the commission finalizes budget decisions.