Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher asked commissioners on Oct. 27 for $2.99 million for her office in 2027, a reported 16.5% increase over the $2.57 million appropriated. The office accounts for about 5% of the county’s $49.6 million general fund budget, roughly $2.5 million, second only to the sheriff’s $20.9 million allocation.
The proposal adds two assistant prosecutors — about $164,000 within a roughly $199,000 increase that also covers raises for current staff — and $54,000 for Axon Justice digital evidence management software. Schumacher, joined by First Assistant Prosecutor Bryan Dove, said the additions would help with felony caseloads and digital evidence review.
Schumacher cited 1,406 felony convictions in Richland County in 2025 and compared that with 358 in Ashland, 320 in Crawford, 221 in Huron and 154 in Knox. She said the county’s felony conviction levels are comparable to or higher than Lucas and Mahoning, and that 5% of incoming cases come from the Mansfield and Richland correctional institutions. She estimated the added prosecutors would bring prosecution cost to $851 per indicted case, or $745 per submitted case.
Commissioner Tony Vero objected that Schumacher had not supplied her slide deck and comparative spreadsheets before the meeting. He questioned whether peer-county figures included juvenile or appellate attorneys and said actual office spending was about $1.8 million in 2023, making the request a 66% increase over five years. Schumacher disputed the comparison, saying staffing gaps made actual expenditures a poor baseline. Commissioner Cliff Mears acknowledged the caseload argument. The session was part of budget meetings before commissioners finalize the 2027 plan.