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Mariposa supervisors approve pay increases for district attorney prosecutors to aid recruitment
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved salary increases for deputy and assistant district attorney classifications after the DA and CAO warned Mariposa was not competitive in the statewide market for licensed attorneys and recruitment had yielded few qualified applicants.
The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 approved salary increases for deputy district attorney (DDA) and assistant district attorney classifications aimed at improving recruitment and retention.
District Attorney Walter Wall said county offices face intense competition for licensed attorneys across California and that a recent law requiring standardized case metrics has increased the office’s data workload. "This act will require the district attorneys of each county to prepare 78 different metrics," Wall told the board, describing the Justice Data Accountability and Transparency Act as a reason the office needs more capacity to manage reporting and public transparency. He said the staff reclassification will help the office meet the new requirements.
County Administrative Officer Joel Lynch told supervisors the change will also improve the county’s ability to compete with larger nearby labor markets. Lynch emphasized Mariposa recruits against Merced and Fresno and described market pressure for experienced attorneys; he said the recommended increases are a targeted effort to “get us in the sandbox” with neighboring jurisdictions.
Supervisors debated the choice of comparator counties and the scale of increases. Supporters said the county has received too few qualified applicants and that modest increases could yield at least one hire; critics asked whether the selected comparators were the best match. After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the item. The motion carried with the board voting in favor and one supervisor excused.
The board packet included salary schedules and comparator data; the board directed staff to monitor recruitment outcomes after the adjustment. No public speaker provided opposition during the hearing.
What’s next: The changes take effect immediately to support active recruitment; the DA said the office will continue to pursue qualified candidates and report back on hiring progress.
