HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-020 - Res. Establishing Chief Public Defender Salary RESOLUTION NO. 1p-0O
**A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MASON COUNTY
ESTABLISHING THE SALARY OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER**
WHEREAS,RCW 36.16.070 states...The Board shall fix the compensation of all employees;and
WHEREAS,the Board recognizes that the Chief Public Defender serves as a department head responsible for the
administration and delivery of constitutionally required indigent defense services;and
WHEREAS,current placement of the Chief Public Defender within the Non-Represented salary schedule does not
appropriately reflect the executive legal leadership responsibilities, independence requirements,and market
conditions associated with the position;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,the position of Chief Public Defender is removed from the Mason
County Non-Represented salary schedule.
1. Placement in Elected/Appointed Officials Salary Structure
The position is designated as an executive appointed department head compensated within the
Elected/Appointed Officials salary structure.
2. Compensation Established
Effective�Qn I ,the annual salary for the Chief Public Defender shall be$187,500,subject to
adjustment only by action of the Board of County Commissioners.
3. Independence of Public Defense
Compensation established herein shall not be conditioned upon case outcomes,conviction rates,reductions
in defense expenditures,or direction from prosecutorial or law-enforcement agencies.The Chief Public
Defender shall maintain professional independence consistent with constitutional and ethical requirements.
4. Administrative Direction
The Human Resources Director and County Administrator are authorized to implement this action and
update classification and compensation records accordingly.
DATED this day of ;2026.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MASON T �SHIN�GTON�
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Pat Tarzwell,Chair
McKenzie Smith,Clerk of the Board
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Sharon Trask,Commissioner
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ran Neatherlin,Commissioner
Tim Whitehead,Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney