Superior Court Clerk says office needs part‑time help now; commissioners say funds are not available

Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade told commissioners at an April 14 budget public hearing that her office has been operating understaffed and she needs an additional part‑time employee and software to meet statutory obligations.

Wade said historically her office has had three staffers and told the commission she must keep the clerk's office open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. by law. "I just need the additional staff for court days," Wade said, arguing she could not 'wait a year' for funding and that without additional help she would be hampered on jury or court days.

Chairman Charles Coffey and other commissioners said the commission must balance requests across all elected offices and that the county currently lacks the funds to meet the request. Coffey told Wade the board has no "magic wand to wave to give you funds" and that any additional staffing would have to be weighed against other departmental requests and the county's broader budget shortfall.

County Manager Thomas Weaver confirmed the county is looking at a substantial deficit in the proposed FY2025 budget and reiterated that staff will prepare a package of recommended changes for the commission to consider. No appropriation was made at the April 14 hearing; the matter remains under consideration within the overall budget process.

Outcome and next steps: Commissioners asked staff to include Wade's request in the budgeting exercise; they said any award of recurring staff funding would require a formal budget amendment and a majority vote of the commission.