Miller miffs council over raises

In a battle of political wills over budgeting, the Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday showed District Attorney Lohra Miller who's boss.

The council chastised Miller during her first crack at the budget since starting the job as district attorney six months ago. Council members were miffed at Miller for a major political no-no: Miller gave her staff a 5 percent raise across the board without asking members of the council if they approved.

"It certainly puts a bad taste in our mouths," said Councilman Joe Hatch. "That was not a good way to start."

Miller apologized to the council several times. But technically, she said, she didn't have to ask — she found the money in her budget to fund the raise by not filling an administrative-level position.

"Legally, I did the right thing," she said. "But it would have been better to talk to them all individually."

Come November, when the budget is finalized, council members worry that Miller will try to have it both ways by filling the opening and handing out raises.

For Hatch, it's an issue of fairness. Now that Miller used extra money in her budget for raises without the council's blessing, every other employee should be able to demand the same, he said.

And even though the council didn't like Miller's move, Hatch said, nobody wants to go back and then cut those salaries back down to what they used to be.

Despite the council members' concerns, they went on to approve most of Miller's budget requests.

"I think we've flogged you enough," Councilman Michael Jensen said.

Miller said she wasn't surprised by the council's complaints.

"I knew it was coming," Miller said. "They gave me fair warning."

The council appropriated $112,000 to double Miller's domestic-violence staff. Last year, 70 percent of the people charged with felonies involving domestic violence in Salt Lake County walked away free without punishment.

The five new positions approved by the council Tuesday are a significant first step to reduce that statistic, Miller said.

The council also approved a $75,000 study to evaluate the district attorney's long-term building needs. The district attorney rents office space downtown for $55,000 a month, but the lease is up soon. Since office space is in such demand in Salt Lake right now, Miller believes costs to lease the office could jump 42 percent to about $78,000 per month.