DATE: January 6, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Doug Sloan, County Counsel
SUBJECT: Salary Resolution Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution to delete a footnote limiting Chief Deputy County Counsel and Assistant County Counsel positions to three, without increasing total positions allocated to the Department, effective January 19, 2026, as reflected in Appendix C.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will enable the Department to hire an experienced and highly qualified attorney to assist with legal issues directly related to the Board’s legal needs, provide a backup for the County Counsel, and assist with office administration. The total estimated cost of the recommended action for FY 2025-26 is approximately $53,378, of which approximately 40% or $21,351 is Net County Cost (NCC). Most of the cost will be offset with salary savings from a position vacancy as well as third-party revenues. Department appropriations and revenues will be monitored, and adjustments will be brought back to your Board if necessary. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could decline to amend the Salary Resolution, in which case the Assistant County Counsel position would likely not be filled.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated cost of the recommended action for FY 2025-26 is approximately $53,378, of which approximately 40% or $21,351 is NCC. Most of the cost will be offset with salary savings from a position vacancy as well as third-party revenues. Appropriations and revenues will be monitored, and adjustments will be brought back to your Board if necessary. Sufficient appropriations and revenues will be included in future Recommended Budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The County Counsel desires to provide the Board, County Administrative Officer, and other departments the best possible legal services, always mindful of helping them reach their goals in a timely and legally defensible approach. Currently, the Department’s Salary Resolution has a footnote limiting the total number of Assistant County Counsel and Chief Deputy County Counsel positions to three, which does not provide the flexibility to fill these positions at the optimum level to meet the needs of the County.
Approval of the recommended action will amend the Salary Resolution to delete this footnote, allowing the Department to retain the three filled Chief Deputy County Counsel positions and fill the Assistant County Counsel position (number two position in the office), which will greatly assist the County Counsel’s office in providing operational efficiency and effectiveness to the County.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Salary Resolution Amendment - Appendix C
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals