Judicial and public defense costs ran above budget in recent months and commissioners discussed a proposal to budget 3% over actuals to allow hiring a deputy public defender. The board noted court-appointed counsel and outside-attorney bills are driving near-term increases.

District Attorney Mike Kegue and court officials presented budget increases tied to heavy caseloads and new statutory duties, and described specialty-court and self-help initiatives. Both offices asked commissioners to fund higher attorney costs and staffing.

A long-running dispute over a loading platform at the Stonington Fish Pier prompted a lawsuit by Sunshine Seafood and led the selectmen to boost the town’s legal budget while weighing remedies ranging from returning payments to formal legal defense. The dispute centers on access, public-safety concerns and longstanding informal use of pier space.