DA seeks funding for five new positions ahead of budget hearings

By Camille DeVaul · Wed Jun 03 2026

Dan Dow says added staffing is needed to meet growing legal demands; has testy exchange with Supervisor Bruce Gibson

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow is requesting additional county funding to support five new or restored positions within his office ahead of upcoming budget hearings scheduled for June 8.

Dow addressed the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on May 19.

"We have been required to cut five full-time employees over the last several years of budget cuts," Dow said. "Today I am requesting five positions."

He urged support for positions including a paralegal, victim witness advocate, administrative assistant, felony deputy district attorney, and a new elder abuse vertical prosecutor.

Dow said the requested staffing additions — estimated at about $857,839 — are necessary to meet increasing legal and legislative demands while continuing to prosecute criminal cases across the county. He emphasized that the District Attorney’s Office has reduced staffing in recent years while handling a growing workload tied to state mandates and complex case requirements.

"Government Code and court precedent are clear: Underfunding that materially impairs a DA's mandated duties crosses a constitutional line," Dow said. "I am not making a threat. I am stating a legal reality — and I am stating it for the record."

Out of a county budget exceeding $1 billion, Dow noted the DA’s Office receives approximately $19 million in general fund support. He argued the additional positions represent a small portion of overall spending but are critical to maintaining prosecutorial capacity and public safety services.

Dow also cited past high-profile prosecutions, including the case against Paul Flores in the murder of Kristin Smart, as examples of the office’s workload and complexity.

"Our mission is to bring justice and safety to this community by aggressively and fairly prosecuting crime and protecting the rights of crime victims. I am asking you to please fund that mission," Dow said, addressing the supervisors. "I am requesting roughly one-tenth of one percent of the Discretionary General Fund. That is about $1 out of every $967 that this county spends of its General Fund. This is to fully fund the prosecutorial functions that protect every one of the 300,000 people that live here."

However, almost immediately after Dow provided his statement to the Board of Supervisors, District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson fired back at Dow.

"That's an impressive display of posturing," Gibson said. "But I have to ask, with your formal notice to the Board of Supervisors, are you threatening to sue the county if you don't get your way?"

Dow told Gibson that as he said in his comments, that while it was not a threat, it is a legal reality.

"Then why are you putting us on formal notice?" Gibson asked. "Asserting that we're unlawfully impeding your ability to do your job when you've met all your performance measures."

District 4 Supervisor and Board Chair Jimmy Paulding then interrupted the conversation between Gibson and the district attorney, adding that it was not the time for a back-and-forth conversation on the matter. Gibson, however, insisted that Dow respond.

"It is absolutely not a threat, but if I don't advise your board of the constitutional requirement and the impacts of it, then I haven't done my job as the district attorney," Dow said.

The Board of Supervisors will consider budget requests during formal hearings on June 8.