31.
Commissioners Court - Regular Session
- Meeting Date:
- 10/15/2024
- Title:
- Policy Exception Increase - Felony Prosecutor III Position
- Submitted By:
- Grace Frias, District Attorney
- Department:
- District Attorney
- Agenda Category:
- Regular Agenda Items
Information
Agenda Item
Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action for a policy exception to increase the budgeted salary of the new Felony Prosecutor III position in the District Attorney’s Office from non-departmental in an amount not to exceed 15% above the minimum of assigned Grade B.41.
Background
The new Felony Prosecutor III position was added to the District Attorney’s Office to work directly with local, State, and Federal law enforcement groups to attack the epidemic of fentanyl use, distribution and deaths. This Prosecutor will be responsible to provide training, investigative assistance, and for felony fentanyl prosecutions from intake through trial.
As the Court is aware, the current job market is extremely competitive. It is challenging to attract qualified applicants and retain them after hire. Attorneys are no exception - particularly Felony Prosecutors. Fewer attorneys are becoming prosecutors, experienced prosecutors are leaving the practice, Travis County, the Attorney General, and the private sector pay more and offer incentives to recruit and retain, rural counties benefit from new special funding legislation, and most other jurisdictions in Texas have a much lower cost of living. I believe this is one of the reasons that Ms. Clemons and Commissioner’s Court have included these positions in the upcoming salary study. We have presented this exception request to both Williamson County Human Resources and the Budget Office.
The Felony Prosecutor III position is currently funded at $117,177.26, the minimum of Grade B.41. The District Attorney’s Office currently has six other Felony Prosecutor III positions with salaries ranging from $131,571.48 to $140,080.26. The District Attorney requests the salary increase to offer competitive compensation to successfully recruit/retain an experienced prosecutor that meets the qualifications and requirements of this new position, and to maintain internal equity with like positions in the Office. The amount of additional funding requested is $21,742.23, including additional salary of $17,576.58 and fringe of $4,165.65.
As the Court is aware, the current job market is extremely competitive. It is challenging to attract qualified applicants and retain them after hire. Attorneys are no exception - particularly Felony Prosecutors. Fewer attorneys are becoming prosecutors, experienced prosecutors are leaving the practice, Travis County, the Attorney General, and the private sector pay more and offer incentives to recruit and retain, rural counties benefit from new special funding legislation, and most other jurisdictions in Texas have a much lower cost of living. I believe this is one of the reasons that Ms. Clemons and Commissioner’s Court have included these positions in the upcoming salary study. We have presented this exception request to both Williamson County Human Resources and the Budget Office.
The Felony Prosecutor III position is currently funded at $117,177.26, the minimum of Grade B.41. The District Attorney’s Office currently has six other Felony Prosecutor III positions with salaries ranging from $131,571.48 to $140,080.26. The District Attorney requests the salary increase to offer competitive compensation to successfully recruit/retain an experienced prosecutor that meets the qualifications and requirements of this new position, and to maintain internal equity with like positions in the Office. The amount of additional funding requested is $21,742.23, including additional salary of $17,576.58 and fringe of $4,165.65.
Fiscal Impact
| From/To | Acct No. | Description | Amount |
|---|
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge Exec Asst. | Becky Pruitt | 10/10/2024 10:04 AM |
- Form Started By:
- Grace Frias
- Started On:
- 10/10/2024 09:20 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 10/10/2024