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District attorney objects to apparent personnel cut; fiscal staff says reduction reflects countywide retirement/OPEB adjustment
Summary
The district attorney raised objections to a personnel-line reduction in the draft budget, fearing it would eliminate a staff position. Fiscal staff said the reduction reflects countywide retirement and OPEB adjustments and a 2% salary increase, not fewer positions.
The district attorney told the Northampton County Council on Nov. 5 that a personnel-line reduction in the draft 2026 budget appeared to reduce staff funding by nearly $190,000 and said he did not agree to cuts to personnel.
"I am not in agreement to lose money out of my personnel budget," the district attorney said after reviewing the fiscal summary (00:05:06–00:05:46).
Fiscal staff responded that the apparent reduction was driven by countywide changes to retirement and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) lines and that "your total staff is absolutely the same, salaries are absolutely the same" once the 2% increase and those adjustments are considered (00:05:51). The DA accepted the clarification.
The district attorney also said he expects upcoming turnover: a senior staff member, Jeff Dimock, is leaving in late winter and the office will replace the employee within existing budgeted dollars, subject to presenting hires to the council as required.
No formal budget vote occurred during the exchange; the conversation was recorded as part of the council's departmental review.
Speakers in this discussion included the district attorney and county fiscal staff.
