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Lucas County prosecutor seeks nearly $1.2 million increase, cites staffing shortfalls and pay gap
Summary
The Lucas County prosecutor told commissioners the office needs nearly $1.2 million more in 2026 to address staff pay gaps and to restore positions that support prosecution and vital civil legal services for county government.
The Lucas County prosecutor's office presented a budget request that the presenter described as an increase close to $1.2 million over the 2025 budget, equal to approximately a 16.7% increase. The prosecutor detailed staffing, pay and caseload challenges and asked commissioners to consider the request in light of recruitment and retention concerns.
The prosecutor said county government attorneys— median hourly pay in internal comparisons was near $43.43 per hour and argued that many comparable positions and neighboring counties pay more, citing an example of a $90,000 starting salary advertised in a nearby county. The presentation included results from a statewide OPAA survey and internal comparisons with county attorneys in other divisions (child-support, children services, magistrates). The prosecutor said the office handles all felonies and juvenile cases, represents county boards and townships, and that staff have a wide range of professional backgrounds.
To illustrate workloads, the prosecutor cited calendar-year figures of 105 murder cases, 119 defendants, 93 trials and 13 juvenile certifications, and said there were 12 juveniles awaiting transfer to common pleas court for murder cases at the moment. The prosecutor said prior actions by the board in 2020 increased court-appointed lawyer rates and noted a recent federal decision that, in the judge—s view, supported higher reasonable attorney-fee awards in complex litigation.
Commissioners asked about the start-pay level, attrition and mandatory continuing-education requirements; the prosecutor said all 60 attorneys in the office are required to meet continuing-legal-education requirements (24 hours every two years) and described some experienced staff who had retired and returned at reduced pay.
Why it matters: The prosecutor framed the request as necessary to retain experienced attorneys who prosecute the county—s most serious criminal cases and to preserve institutional knowledge in several civil and labor-law functions the office performs for county government and townships.
