CASA director urges 4% raises to retain experienced staff handling growing caseloads

Nikki Baskin (speaker 19), who identified herself as the CASA director, told the council that her three full-time staff already work 40 hours and take on on-call duties for visiting children placed out of county. She asked the council to consider a 4% increase for her staff, saying that losing trained employees would both disrupt services and increase county costs because guardians ad litem for every child could cost substantially more if volunteer CASA capacity faltered.

Baskin said her office uses grant funds for some positions but that turnover has a direct fiscal and welfare impact: she noted about 300 children currently in the local system and argued the county would pay far more if CASA services were not available. Council members agreed to include CASA positions in the personnel review and to have the auditor confirm the budget treatment of grant-funded roles.