20260506 Budget Work Session - County's Attorney's Office Discussion

This was a budget work session held by the Cochise County Board of Supervisors on May 6, 2026, focusing on the County Attorney's Office funding and staffing needs. Key procurement-related discussions included a funding request for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, which supports victim advocacy programs. The office highlighted challenges with fluctuating federal grant amounts and the importance of these funds for victim services. Additionally, a significant portion of the meeting addressed salary reclassification and market adjustment requests for civil deputy attorneys, emphasizing difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified legal staff due to competitive salaries in neighboring counties and private practice. The office requested additional budget allocations to better align salaries with market rates to maintain service quality and reduce reliance on costly outside counsel. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, but the discussion set the stage for future budget decisions, including a planned work session on May 14 to consider funding requests further.