Commissioners shift funds, approve prosecutor staff raises and other mid‑year payroll adjustments

Teton County commissioners approved a set of mid‑year budget changes on the recommendation of county staff to reallocate remaining cash and insurance savings for staff pay adjustments.

Clerk and budget staff outlined a plan to use over‑budgeted insurance savings and the removal of a vacant patrol deputy position to fund a series of pay adjustments across departments. Staff described the combined package as including roughly $92,985 (including benefits) to fund prosecutor‑office staff increases and $14,000 transferred to district court salaries to equalize pay grades, plus a separate proposed increase to the elected prosecutor’s salary totaling roughly $45,500 when benefits are included.

Commissioners debated whether an elected official’s salary may be changed mid‑year; one commissioner asked for outside legal review. The board split the package into two separate motions: (1) to increase prosecutor‑office staff salaries (48,500 reported in discussion as the staff component) and to transfer $14,000 from general fund to district court salaries (approved unanimously), and (2) to increase the elected prosecuting attorney’s salary by $35,000 base (about $45,500 with benefits), which passed on a 2–1 vote. Commissioner Powers voted no on the elected‑official increase and requested a finding of necessity to obtain an independent legal opinion on the mid‑year raise.

Commissioners also discussed using a pool of funds for one‑time items (animal services/PAWS contract support was discussed at a proposed $15,000 level) and agreed to revisit outcomes and implementation details. The board asked staff to document exact funding sources and to return with final budget amendments for posting and recordation.