Pay for Attorneys

Re “Parity in Pay Urged for County Lawyers,” June 13.

The grand jury’s report on the disparity of salaries for county attorneys is very disturbing. Public safety is everyone’s No. 1 priority, and it involves more than just the number of police on the streets. It includes the courts, district attorney and public defender.

One wonders how the Board of Supervisors has allowed the salaries for attorneys to have gotten so far out of line with other counties [as] to be totally noncompetitive. Even within the three county departments of county counsel, district attorney and public defender there is a wide disparity in salaries for attorneys.

The supervisors have found time to review and increase their own salaries. Now they must give top priority to resolving the inequity that is exposed in the grand jury’s excellent report. Why would an attorney take an entry-level position with the Ventura County District Attorney’s office when the pay is 65% of what he or she could earn in Orange County? And why would a senior deputy district attorney stay in Ventura County when the same position would pay 20% more in another county?

One statement in the report reveals that in the past decade more than 56 attorneys have resigned to take higher-paying jobs in other counties. We train them and they move on. Who can blame them?

Although I seldom argue for pay increases, this sad situation must be immediately addressed and resolved. Because the Board of Supervisors will not be in session for much of the summer, I suggest the board convene a special meeting devoted to this issue.

JERE ROBINGS

Thousand Oaks