County attorney says caseload requires extra attorneys; proposes budget adjustments

County Attorney Gary presented his office’s budget case, saying higher trial volume and the time required to review body-worn camera evidence justify growing the attorney staff. He described a proposal that would convert a part-time shared position into a full-time county attorney role and said he could justify a fourth attorney if needed to handle rising workload; the office’s current proposal included adding one full-time position funded at an assumed market rate.

Gary also raised the possibility of using an existing child-support incentive fund for certain uncontrollable law-related costs, but commissioners cautioned any diversion of federal dollars requires documented written authority. One commissioner said they would not accept verbal confirmation and asked for written evidence that those federal funds could be used for costs such as autopsies or other court-related uncontrollable expenses. "The need for the four attorneys is very very apparent," Gary said while explaining trial preparation demands.