The Gallatin County Attorney’s Office requested one‑time funding for contract attorneys who have helped screen and charge felony cases, and proposed remodeling approximately 1,600 square feet on the Second Floor of the Atrium Building to create additional workspace.

The county attorney said the office had been using contract legal services for several years to supplement staffing and that two contract attorneys — named in the presentation as Dori Brownlee and Corinne Ziegler — currently assist with felony screening and charging. The office requested one‑time funding of $120,000 for continuing contract services, reduced from a prior year request after a backlog of older cases was resolved. The county attorney told commissioners the contract attorneys helped bring case screening times into a 30‑day target for charging or declination.

Separately, the office presented an estimate — based on rough square‑foot cost calculations — of roughly $136,000 (rounded to $140,000 on the budget worksheet) to remodel half of the Atrium Building’s Second Floor to add six offices, printing and support areas and four cubicles for support staff. The presenting attorney said the estimate included workstations and basic finishes but acknowledged the figure was an order‑of‑magnitude estimate and requested more deliberation.

Commissioners voted to approve the contract legal services request at a reduced level and instructed staff to defer the Atrium remodel proposal for further planning as part of an overall county space‑use conversation. One commissioner noted that a new facilities manager and the county’s broader capital projects warranted a more deliberate approach to space planning before funding remodels.