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Chippewa County approves pay‑grade raises to aid prosecutor and public defender recruitment
Summary
After a committee review of recruitment challenges, the county approved grade increases for the prosecutor's and public defenders' staff — a step officials said is intended to improve hiring and retention; the estimated additional cost is just under $70,000 at top five‑year pay rates.
The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners approved pay‑grade changes for several positions in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Public Defenders Office after a committee review that highlighted recruitment and retention problems.
Prosecuting Attorney Rob Stratton told the Personnel/Equalization/Transportation/Health & Social Services Committee that the changes are intended to make county positions more competitive with the private sector and neighboring jurisdictions. Administrator Kelly Church provided financial context for the proposal, saying the total increase — measured at five‑year rates and using current benefit assumptions — would be just under $70,000 at the highest pay scale rates.
Under the approved adjustments, the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney position moves from Grade 15 to Grade 17; two Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys and one Assistant Public Defender move from Grade 12 to Grade 14; and one Deputy Public Defender moves from Grade 13 to Grade 15. The county also retained previously approved special salaries for those positions and directed staff to step up recruitment and advertising for the openings. A motion to amend the magistrate grade from 20 to 22 was also adopted by the committee.
The committee discussion cited a range of retention and recruitment pressures, including local labor-market competitiveness, housing availability and the models counties use to provide indigent defense services. The minutes note that Upper Peninsula counties vary in their approaches, with some using Public Defender offices and others using managed assigned counsel models.
Committee members moved and carried the changes on voice votes during the committee meeting; the item was reported back to the full board as part of standing‑committee reports.
