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Committee approves child support restructure, creates compliance specialist and new principal counsel posts
Summary
After reviewing options following transfer of child support under corporation counsel, the committee approved creating a child support compliance specialist and two principal assistant corporation counsel positions (eliminating equivalent prior roles), and recommended placement of those jobs on the county compensation structure.
The Dodge County Human Resources Committee approved a set of position changes to reorganize the child support agency now operating under corporation counsel. Human Resources Director Tanya explained the child support director position will be eliminated, a child support compliance specialist will be created (recommended at pay grade L), two assistant corporation counsel positions will be closed and replaced by two principal assistant corporation counsel positions (recommended at pay grade S), and the net effect to the 2026 budget is neutral because vacancies offset costs.
Tanya said McGrath reviewed job descriptions and recommended placement on the county compensation structure. The committee heard that the child support director position is vacant (notice given in December and vacant since January), which the presenters said made this a suitable time to restructure. Tanya and corporation counsel explained the child support attorney will continue to handle court caseload while the new principal assistant corporation counsel will provide administrative oversight and backup in court when needed.
Committee members asked how many positions would be eliminated and created; staff answered the change is technically three positions eliminated and three created, and that the changes are intended to maintain or slightly decrease overall cost. Questions about workload and whether corporation counsel staff could absorb additional duties were discussed; corporation counsel acknowledged additional administrative responsibilities but said they were manageable and reimbursable through existing child-support state reimbursements.
The committee also reviewed a proposed reclassification for the corporation counsel position to a higher pay grade (packet and McGrath recommendation provided). Tanya said a reclass does not automatically guarantee a specific percentage increase and that any fiscal impact would likely be seen in the 2027 budget cycle; staff noted some 2026 savings and vacancies would mitigate immediate budget pressure. The committee voted to place the new positions on the compensation structure and to move forward with reclassification discussion, and the motions carried.
Next steps include posting the new positions, accepting applications, and aligning payroll and budget entries; Tanya said job descriptions and the compensation structure will be provided to committee members and posted for applicants.
