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County Attorney asks committee for pay‑band flexibility to attract senior attorneys; request sent to full board
Summary
Culpeper County’s attorney asked the Personnel Committee to reclassify one of two vacant assistant county attorney positions to a higher pay grade to improve recruitment and retention, saying the office needs a path for promotion; the committee voted to forward the request to the full board without recommendation.
The County Attorney asked the Personnel Committee to reclassify one of two vacant assistant county attorney positions to a higher pay band so the office can recruit and retain experienced attorneys.
"I'm not asking for more money. I'm asking for the ability to attract and retain," the County Attorney said, explaining the request is for pay‑band flexibility rather than an additional full‑time equivalent. The attorney said both assistant positions are currently graded at 115 and requested that one be reclassified to grade 119 (a higher band analogous to a deputy or senior assistant in neighboring offices) so the office can offer a career ladder and reduce reliance on outside counsel.
Committee members probed budget implications and alternatives. Staff explained that the workforce plan and budget are tied: reclassifying a position to a higher pay grade would increase budgeted costs unless offset by decreasing or freezing another position. The County Attorney suggested the office could offset some costs by reducing outside professional services if a senior attorney with litigation experience were hired and also said the position is already budgeted at the current grade; the request was for flexibility to promote within the existing budget if feasible.
Some members worried about the potential top pay for a 119 grade; one member said it could approach "$200,000," a level that would require clearer planning before approval. Several committee members proposed a compromise grade (118) that would give more flexibility than 115 but cost less than 119.
After discussion, the committee moved and seconded a motion to forward the reclassification request to the full board for deliberation without the personnel committee making a recommendation. The committee took a voice vote (ayes recorded; exact tally not specified) and the motion passed.
Staff said they would work with the County Attorney and finance to prepare a concrete plan for the full board showing how reclassification might be done without increasing the overall budget. The full Board of Supervisors will consider the request at a future meeting.
