COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners decided during their Thursday morning work session to bring a request from Prosecutor Zachary Stempien to fund a vacant Assistant Prosecuting attorney position forward to their 2024 budget discussions.
The line item would be between $100,000 and $150,000 per year.
Stempien feels the additional assistant prosecutor is needed to meet his office’s workload demands. He noted the position has been open for over a decade.
The Commissioners action came after a suggestion from Tom Mathew who wanted the matter discussed further during work on the budget.
Stempien says the additional six Branch County Sheriff’s Department deputies will further increase work in the Prosecutors Office.
Stempien said in his written request to the Commissioners that the impact of under staffing in the Prosecutors Office has resulted in a decrease in prosecution of cases as well as less desirable case results and higher employee turnover due to burnout.
Comments