District attorney tells Walworth committee caseloads and filings are up, seeks staffing in 2027 budget

District Attorney Zeke Widenfeld told the Walworth County Board Executive Committee that his office has seen a steady increase in referrals and filings over the past decade and that state‑funded prosecutors added in recent years have increased the need for county support staff.

Widenfeld said the office has "7 state funded prosecutor positions" and described filings rising from about 1,600 in 2013 to roughly 2,900 in 2025 and referrals increasing from about 3,600 to 5,200. He said the 2027 budget includes one full‑time legal assistant to replace a 0.5 ARPA‑funded position and to help phase out ARPA support for that role.

The DA also noted a capital project to expand office space in the Judicial Center to better accommodate victim‑witness coordinators and paralegals. Committee members asked clarifying questions about staffing ratios and whether additional prosecutors might be added in future years; Widenfeld said further additions typically follow updated need‑studies tied to filings.