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Prosecutor Noelle Mugenberg warns of staffing crisis; asks board to reclassify positions and shift FOIA duties
Summary
Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Mugenberg told the Grand Traverse County Board the office faces a recruitment and retention crisis driven by local cost-of-living and disparities with state-funded contract pay; she asked the board to reclassify two attorney positions and consider reassigning FOIA duties to free capacity for prosecutions.
Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Mugenberg told the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners at a study session that rising caseload complexity and local cost pressures have left her office understaffed and overburdened. She said the office currently has about six attorneys ("six and a half," she said) though it is staffed for eight and that case complexity—more digital evidence and multiple camera reviews—has dramatically increased attorney workload.
"Cases have become more complex," Mugenberg said. "An average drunk-driving or misdemeanor domestic violence case can involve at least an hour and a half of body-worn camera review." She told commissioners that her chief assistant has roughly 208 open felony cases, while the MIDC standard the office referenced is about 150 felony cases per attorney.
Mugenberg asked the board to reclassify two positions to make pay more competitive and to consider designating another county office to handle FOIA requests, a duty she said is not statutorily required of the prosecutor's office and is consuming staff time. She also said the office has had difficulty filling openings and retaining staff because private-practice and contract work can pay substantially more than local prosecution salaries in Traverse City.
Why it matters: Prosecutors' staffing shortages affect how quickly cases are reviewed and victims and defendants are contacted. Mugenberg said delays have led to slower domestic violence case reviews and less time to prepare witnesses; she said that harms victims and strains court operations.
Commissioners pushed for comparative salary data and asked Mugenberg to bring a concrete plan, including cost estimates, to the county's salary ad hoc committee and the 2026 budget request process. Commissioners also discussed renegotiating the county's misdemeanor-prosecution contract with the City of Traverse City and asked administration to look at termination language and alternatives; Mugenberg said the contract is voluntary but that without an agreement the county is statutorily required to prosecute those cases.
Board action and next steps: The prosecutor asked the chair to let the salary ad hoc committee consider reclassification proposals; commissioners directed staff to include the requested classification changes and any associated raise or reclassification requests in the regular 2026 budget submission process. No formal board action was taken at the study session beyond scheduling further review.
Quotes: "I'm asking for help in ways to create more revenue for my office as well," Mugenberg said. "I'm trying to keep the people I have. I'm having an extremely difficult time bringing new people in."
