Mohave Daily News: Local

KINGMAN - Mohave County supervisors approved Monday a student loan repayment program for the county attorney's office.

The loan repayment program would be the same program used by the public and legal defender's office. The program would be for prosecutors with at least two years experience in the office. The public and legal defender's office has had the loan repayment program for the past two years. The program has cut the turnover rate in those offices with the public defender's office now being fully staffed.

District 1 Sup. Pete Byers said with the slowdown in the economy, he expects crime to rise in the next few years and with a shortage of attorneys, the remaining prosecutors at the county attorney's office have seen an increase in the number of cases.

“The scales of justice have become unbalanced,” Byers said. “With the program approved for defense attorneys, it has become efficient for the defense side. This will balance the scales of justice.”

District 2 Sup. Tom Sockwell also approved the program saying the county needs to support law enforcement and the court systems for the safety of the public.

District 3 Sup. Buster Johnson voted against the program asking if the county could afford it and wondering why the program was not brought up during the budget process.

County Manager Ron Walker assured the board that despite a tight budget, the county could afford the program.

Eleven prosecutors have left the county attorney's office in the past 18 months. Eight of the attorneys left because of student loan repayment issues. Six current prosecutors have student loan debt ranging from $100,000 to $161,000, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said.

In other action, the board:

- Approved the sale of a surplus trailer and generator for the Mohave Valley Community Emergency Response Team for $1. The trailer and generator are now used by the county emergency management department, which has obtained grant money for a new trailer and generator to provide backup power to remote radio repeater sites in case of an emergency.

- Approved the court settlement that will reduce the property value for 10 parcels in Golden Shores, Bullhead City and Golden Valley.

- Approved a change to a contract to increase the funds for eviction prevention emergency housing assistance program by $193,741 to a total of $469,000.