But it was a fellow Republican, not Democrats, who turned the 2007 budget request into a cross-examination of Miller.

At issue was whether the newly elected district attorney ought to have an additional $183,000 for a chief deputy should Miller choose to appoint one. Outgoing DA David Yocom has opted against using a No. 2, forfeiting the cash from his budget as a result.

Miller said she has no particular attorney in mind but "would appreciate having that option available to me," which clearly is allowed under county statute.

Democratic Councilman Randy Horiuchi defended the notion, saying it would be a breech of collegiality not to honor Miller's request.

But that didn't satisfy GOP Councilman Mark Crockett, who challenged Miller minutes after she received a warm welcome at what was her first budget hearing.

"It's not about collegiality," Crockett said. "It's about money."

He argued Miller ought to hire from within rather than spend $183,000 for a new position that still seems up in the air.

"What some of us on this council have been trying to get away from is budgeting just in case," Crockett said.

"That just doesn't work," Miller countered, suggesting that since she comes from outside the county system, the slot could help provide her institutional knowledge.

Deputy district attorney Jerry Campbell insisted the job would be a boon both for criminal duties and day-to-day office work.

Even so, a majority on the council (the vote was 5-3) decided to deny the deputy - for now. Should Miller elect to appoint a deputy after settling into office, the council said they would be agreeable early next year.

"I guess this is a nice welcome, so I apologize," Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said to break the tension.

Councilman Jim Bradley insisted Miller will find a "very sympathetic council" if she returns with the request for the June budget.

"Even from Mr. Ornery," Crockett quipped.

Afterward, Miller downplayed the dustup.

"They were amenable," she said between accepting congratulations from a smattering of county insiders. "It was not a big deal."

In other county budget news:

* Despite one councilman lamenting he felt "held hostage," the group approved a new Emergency Management Coordinator position to help plan policies and procedures in the event of a natural disaster.

* By an 8-0 count, the council rejected Clerk Sherrie Swensen's request for 130 new touch-screen voting machines, which Swensen wants for the 2008 presidential election. Mayor Peter Corroon had recommended waiting, noting the industry is rapidly changing.

"We needed to see a full-fledged analysis," explained Darrin Casper, chief financial officer. Overall, Swensen estimates the county will need to increase its voting machine count from 3,000 to about 4,000 to handle the extra voters, which Casper calculates to be a $3 million cost. Swensen will try again during the midyear budget session in June.

* New software to conduct aerial photography was approved for the county assessor to make more accurate appraisals.

* A new deputy was minted for the county's Administrative Services Department, which oversees scandal-plagued operations including fleet and personnel.

* Recorder Gary Ott saw a $30,000 request for a software consultant denied. The move comes on the heels of a contract controversy in Ott's office that led to an audit.

* Two new township coordinator slots were approved.

djensen@sltrib.com