District attorney flags pay disparities with sheriff's office after county salary study

Kendra Culpepper presented findings she pulled from the county salary study and state comparisons, warning that many DA positions — paralegals, clerks and prosecutors — fall well below peer averages and, in some cases, are the lowest of counties sampled.

Culpepper said that while some positions in the sheriff's office rank above market, many DA roles compared poorly to state averages. "A paralegal, the staff is...Paralegals, 46,000. The state average is 65,000," she said, noting difficulty recruiting experienced candidates. She urged the court to consider equitable adjustments across departments rather than piecemeal raises that leave internal pay disparities in place. Culpepper recommended using SB22 supplemental funds to bridge immediate gaps and emphasized that full correction would require multi-year planning.

Commissioners discussed how hiring ranges and longevity affect the actual pay distributions; staff explained some sheriff's positions are on a step plan while most county clerks are on a different pay plan, producing different actual averages. Culpepper agreed that changes could not all be made in one budget year but asked that the court factor internal equity into near-term salary decisions and range adjustments. The DA agreed to provide the underlying tables and numbers to commissioners for further review.