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Prosecutor asks board for extra civil attorney amid rising workloads
Summary
The prosecuting attorney presented a 2026 budget request that would add a civil deputy prosecutor (DPA) to handle growing civil work, public-records burdens and coverage gaps. Commissioners treated staffing as a substantive budget ask for further workshop consideration.
The county prosecuting attorney told commissioners that the office faces sustained civil workload and gaps in legal-assistance capacity, and formally requested an additional civil deputy prosecutor (DPA) position in the 2026 budget.
Office leaders said the office has operated for extended periods without a civil attorney and has been covering public-records requests and land-use work in addition to criminal caseloads. The presentation described two open positions that could be allocated toward civil or criminal work depending on candidate qualifications and recommended a new civil DPA to provide routine counsel to county departments and to reduce vulnerability during unplanned employee absences.
Commissioners questioned alternatives: adding a skilled paralegal, charging departmental units for legal support, or repurposing frozen positions. Prosecutor staff said a paralegal would not fully substitute for an attorney for civil advice, PRA review, and complex land-use matters. The office noted the prosecution-side salary increase mandated by the state for prosecuting attorneys but said that operational support for civil matters remains strained.
Budget next steps: The board asked staff to prepare a written proposal and suggested a workshop for deeper discussion; no immediate hiring decision was made. Diane (county staff) will compile comparative data on prior increases and staffing patterns for the November budget schedule.
