Carroll County Council members interrupted a series of budget discussions, which included reducing many department requests for funding, to hear a request to fill a recently vacated full-time secretarial position from prosecutor Tricia Thompson and deputy prosecutor Christine Smith.

Smith explained that a fulltime secretary is a central component to any law office, noting the prosecutor's office is a law office. She said the prosecutor's office initiates all paperwork for each case filed in court and reviews every case submitted by local law enforcement.

Thompson said the position, which was vacated nearly a month ago, is the only fulltime position in the office not funded through the state, as is her salary and the salaries for the deputy prosecutor and IVD Child Support clerk. Other department staff include a parttime secretary and a part-time IV-D attorney.

"The full-time position is critical," she said. "We can't survive without it."

Council member Carl Abbott made the motion to approve the request and Rob Baker provided the second. Jerry Hendress told Thompson that she asked for increases in the 2009 budget, noting there was limited funding available for the office. Thompson said if it became a choice between any increases and the full-time position, she would not hesitate to choose the position.

The motion passed in a fiveto one vote. Ron Slavens, who suggested the IV-D clerk share secretarial duties in the prosecutor's office voted to deny the request.