Salary and Labor 9-23-26

The LaSalle County Salary and Labor Committee met on September 23, 2026, to discuss budget and staffing needs for the Public Defender's Office. The committee reviewed detailed budget worksheets including revenue from fines and grant funds, and discussed the allocation of funds for office supplies, travel, legal research software, and part-time attorney stipends. A key procurement-related discussion focused on the request to create a new full-time attorney position with a proposed salary of $85,000 to address increasing caseloads and workload challenges, particularly due to the Safety Act requirements. The committee acknowledged the limitations of part-time attorneys and the difficulty in recruiting them, emphasizing the need for a full-time position with benefits to improve office efficiency. A motion to approve the additional attorney position was made and passed by roll call vote. Additionally, the committee considered but deferred the purchase of a salary negotiation software called True Comp due to cost concerns and limited use by department heads. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session for employee compensation and discretionary leave matters.