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Yes.
The Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s office received state funding for more staff positions between 2022 and 2026 than the state crime labs did.
Attorney General Josh Kaul made the claim during an Oct. 11 debate with Republican attorney general candidate Eric Toney, the Fond du Lac County district attorney. Kaul and Toney have debated backlogs in the state labs.
In the 2023-2025 budget, Fond du Lac County did not receive any new assistant district attorney positions, according to the budget documents. Kaul requested 16 new positions for the crime labs, including 10 DNA analysts. The Republican-controlled Legislature funded three positions, none of which were DNA analysts.
In the 2025-2027 budget, Toney’s office received four prosecutor positions, one of several DA’s offices to receive new staff.
In the 2025-2027 budget, Kaul requested 19 positions for the crime labs, but received none.
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- WISN.com: Attorney general candidates spar over Trump, crime during 'UPFRONT' debate
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Summary of Provisions, 2023 Wisconsin Act 19
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Summary of Provisions, 2025 Wisconsin Act 15
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AG race could focus on crime lab backlogs. Here’s what to know
Did Eric Toney’s office receive more new prosecutor staff than the state crime lab in Josh Kaul’s second term? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
