COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to direct Administrator Bud Norman to include a request from Prosecutor Zach Stempien to fill a vacant Assistant Prosecuting Attorney position in the first draft of the proposed 2024 budget.
The additional assistant prosecutors position has not been filled since it was cut in 2012 as money was never reallocated.
Stempien told Commissioners during their work session last week that the additional person is needed because the increase of Sheriff’s Department road deputies will increase his office’s workload further.
He also noted that statistically, Branch County handles the second highest number of felonies per attorney in comparison to counties of equal or greater size.
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