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Wilmington finance committee reviews law department budget as staffing and residency questions surface
Summary
Acting city solicitor told the finance committee the law department seeks $3.0M for FY2027, citing vacancies and outside counsel use; officials said residency rules have limited recruitment and that $270,000 in outside counsel is budgeted for litigation and complex transactions.
The Wilmington City Finance Committee heard a presentation on the law department’s FY2027 proposed budget at its April 29 hearing, where acting city solicitor Rose Tisoni and Office of Management and Budget staff outlined staffing pressures, outside counsel costs and recruitment barriers.
Acting City Solicitor Rose Tisoni said the department’s FY2027 request totals about $3,000,000, an increase of roughly $154,300 (about 5.3%) from FY2026 driven primarily by personal‑service and benefits costs. ‘‘When fully staffed, we are a ten‑member office including the city solicitor,’’ Tisoni said, and reported that the department currently has seven attorneys with one vacancy to be filled on May 18.
Tisoni told council that the department handled a heavy docket over the prior year: it drafted or reviewed roughly 579 contracts and agreements and 174 ordinances and resolutions since January 2025, and managed about 84 lawsuits, many handled in‑house.
During questions, Tisoni said the city’s residency requirement has hampered recruitment. ‘‘We are the only government employer in Newcastle County that has a residency requirement,’’ she told council, adding that some applicants withdraw when informed of the rule and that two of three vacancies filled in 2023 were during a lapse of the requirement.
Council members pressed for specifics on outside counsel and litigation budgets. Tisoni said the department proposes $270,000 for outside counsel, split across labor negotiations and related litigation (about $145,000), real estate transactions (about $25,000) and complex transactions (about $100,000). She named firms engaged in the last two fiscal years, including Richards, Layton & Finger and Young Conaway, and said the department evaluates firms for expertise and competitive rates.
On internal capacity, Tisoni said the department has used outside counsel judiciously when matters require specialized expertise or present conflicts of interest. She also said the budget proposes $25,000 to support the ethics commission and $30,000 in an outside‑counsel line to let council retain independent counsel if conflicts arise.
Public comment touched on related fiscal issues: Jean Messick, a community outreach volunteer, urged investment in training to avoid litigation costs and criticized recent settlements as ‘‘a waste of money.’’ Chair Michelle Harley said follow‑up requests would be tracked and that public comments were limited to fiscal matters.
The committee scheduled follow‑up questions and will receive additional details as staff compiles requested materials.
