Prosecutor seeks $250,000 state grant for victim portal and staff retention; Ways and Means forwards framework to full board

Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd asked the Ways and Means Committee to forward a spending framework to the full board that would use a one-time $250,000 state grant to (1) pay for a two-year subscription to a victim-communication portal and (2) provide conditional retention payments for prosecuting-attorney staff to reduce turnover.

Lloyd described the grant as a one-time award; the agency that distributes the money previously funded public defenders and a separate state appropriation set aside $250,000 for Eaton County. Lloyd said the portal would allow victim advocates and attorneys to connect with victims via text and other mobile communications, which he described as useful for people who move frequently and rely on phones for communication. He asked that two years of subscription service be covered with the grant so the county can assess longer-term funding through the office budget.

Lloyd also proposed a one-time retention payment equal to 12% of base compensation, distributed with a clawback provision: employees who accept the payment would be required to return a prorated portion if they leave within six months. County staff said the plan was crafted so the grant would be net-neutral from the county’s perspective and could be recycled for recruitment if recipients leave.

Controller Ben (Controller) and administration staff said the Ways and Means motion would send the framework and application to the full board for final action and that the county had received an extension from the state treasury to submit materials. The committee voted to forward the framework to the full board and to allow the prosecutor and administration to work together to implement the plan if treasury approves the grant.

Lloyd emphasized that the funds were intended to retain the office’s remaining attorneys, legal assistants and victim advocates amid high turnover and post-millage uncertainty. He said violent crime prosecutions would remain the office’s top priority and that losing staff would constrain the office’s capacity to pursue nonviolent cases and maintain case processing times.

The committee’s action was a procedural step: treasury approval is required before the county will disburse funds under this framework and the county’s full board must adopt the final resolution.