Kenai Peninsula Borough legal department proposes streamlined FY26 budget; deputy attorney Todd Sherwood to retire in July

Borough Attorney Sean Kelly presented the legal department's FY26 budget May 6, describing a mostly flat, streamlined request and announcing that long-time deputy attorney Todd Sherwood will retire this July.

Kelly said the legal department budget is slightly down overall from FY25 but includes a personnel increase. He explained staff have prioritized handling more work in-house to limit outside counsel costs and that the department reduced projected contract legal services while keeping a contingency for litigation. Kelly said the office will request case- or project-specific appropriations if an extraordinary outside counsel need arises.

Kelly highlighted training and preventive-law work as priorities: the legal team has completed in-person skills refreshers for boards and commissions this year and intends to continue training elected and appointed officials. He also flagged ongoing…