SLO County DA Dan Dow doesn’t get his budget request for more positions

DA's Budget Request Denied After Tense Board Debate

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow failed to secure funding for five new staff positions during a contentious budget hearing Monday, with the Board of Supervisors voting 3-2 to reject his $850,000 funding request.

The New Times SLO (Atascadero) reported that 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, who represents Atascadero and much of the south county, played a key role in denying the request, emphasizing fiscal constraints facing the county.

"Each of the 26 departments is being asked to live within their means because of the budget challenges that this board faces," Paulding said during the discussion. "With limited funds, we really do have to make strategic decisions."

CalCoastNews reported that the final vote breakdown saw Supervisors John Peschong and Heather Moreno supporting Dow's request, while Paulding, Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Bruce Gibson opposed it, with Peschong ultimately abstaining.

Five Positions on the Line

Dow's request sought to fund three restored positions and two new hires for the 2026-27 fiscal year. According to KCBX, the positions included a staff member dedicated to elder abuse cases, a paralegal, a victim witness advocate, an administrative assistant and a deputy district attorney.

The DA's office website detailed that the elder abuse prosecutor position had been requested annually for seven years, noting the "growing elder population and the cascading social and economic costs of unaddressed elder abuse."

Dow proposed funding three of the positions through $244,000 in Proposition 172 reserve funds and $267,000 in opioid settlement money. The remaining positions would require general fund support.

Constitutional Challenge and Board Tensions

The request came with legal implications. A Tribune report documented how Dow placed the board "on formal notice" in May that denying funding could violate constitutional requirements for prosecutorial independence.

"Government code and court precedent are clear that underfunding that materially impairs the district attorney's mandated duties crosses a constitutional line," Dow told supervisors.

This led to a heated exchange with Supervisor Bruce Gibson, who accused Dow of "threatening" the county. Gibson also criticized the DA's office for allegedly having a low conviction rate and needing to participate in a county management audit.

Impact on Atascadero and North County

For Atascadero residents, the denial means continued delays in case processing and potentially reduced public safety services. KSBY reported that "cases are taking longer to get to trial" amid staffing cuts, with one serious child abuse case remaining in the system since 2024.

The DA's office already received $1.3 million in "add-back requests" during the regular budget process, bringing Dow's total budget allocation to more than $19 million. County officials announced the county's overall budget tops $1 billion in governmental funds.

Supervisor Paulding emphasized competing public safety priorities, including staffing the new Nipomo Sheriff's Office substation scheduled for completion in 2028 and maintaining three firefighters per county fire engine.

Next Steps and Budget Timeline

The Board of Supervisors will hold final budget deliberations on June 16. Paulding and other supervisors asked that discussions about Proposition 172 and opioid settlement fund allocation be incorporated into strategic planning processes rather than addressed as individual department requests.

"We need to have a strategic discussion about what some of the gaps are," Paulding said. "I think we need to have a more global discussion before we can move forward with a one-off request."

County CEO Matt Pontes noted the budget was finalized in March, with the DA's additional position requests coming after the formal process had closed. The county executive office indicated it would continue reviewing funding opportunities for the DA's expanded staffing needs.