Yamhill County DA presses budget committee to restore two prosecutor positions amid rising caseloads

Yamhill County District Attorney Kate Lynch told the county budget committee on the second day of hearings that the criminal prosecution division is seeking restoration of two entry-level deputy district attorney (DDA I) positions that were cut from last year—s budget.

Lynch, who took office less than six months ago, said the office reduced personnel to balance its budget after a drop in grant revenues and increases in retirement and benefit costs. She said those two positions were vacant at the time and therefore chosen for elimination to reduce immediate impact on current staff.

The DA outlined the prosecution office—s workload in 2024: roughly 457 felony prosecutions, 1,114 misdemeanors and more than 1,100 contempt matters. Lynch said higher-complexity felony work requires sustained attention and that felony-level prosecutors are absorbing misdemeanor dockets. She warned the current staffing pattern is not sustainable long term, especially if the county absorbs additional municipal…