Commissioners delay decision on public defender raise, extend contract 30 days
After sharp questioning about a proposed 28% increase in the county public defender contract, the board agreed to a 30‑day extension to negotiate terms and to reconvene in January with additional information.
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The commission declined to approve a proposed increase in the county public defender contract and instead agreed to extend the current contract for 30 days to permit further negotiations. Kyle Swanson asked the board to raise his contract from $190,000 to $243,705 for the 2026–27 term based on a DIDS weighted caseload study; several commissioners said they were not prepared to approve a 28% increase at the meeting.
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