POULSBO — Poulsbo City Prosecutor Kylie Purves has resigned to accept a position with the Bremerton City Attorney’s office.

The Bremerton city attorney’s office confirmed she will serve as assistant city attorney. Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson, who was interviewing candidates for city prosecutor Jan. 15, said Purves has agreed to stay on until a new prosecutor is hired.

In Poulsbo, Purves is paid $88,000 a year. Her Bremerton salary was not available.

“It’s a great opportunity for her to expand her career,” Erickson said of Purves. “She did a great job of handling the risk assessment and claims process, and having prosecution services in house rather by outside contract has given our police and the mayor’s office much better support. Since she’s been city prosecutor, we’ve been litigation free. She’s saved us a lot of money.”

Poulsbo human resources director Deanna Kingery said Jan. 15 “we interviewed five candidates for City Prosecutor/Risk Manager today and we will be interviewing six candidates for City Clerk next week.”

Purves’ successor will serve as prosecutor, risk assessment officer, and code enforcement officer, Erickson said.

Regarding the city clerk’s position, the city clerk is responsible for “processing all ordinances, resolutions, legal publications, contracts/agreements, real property documents, lawsuits and claims for damages filed against the city,” according to the city website.

Other functions include “preparing and monitoring the Legislative and Clerk budgets, conducting the census for newly annexed areas as well as coordinating the annual census requirements, maintaining the city’s records and ensuring the preservation of essential documents.”

Purves joined Poulsbo as city clerk in January 2014; she was formerly a lawyer with Cross, LaCross & Murphy in Port Orchard, and has served as judge pro tem of the Bremerton Municipal Court. She became city prosecutor in February 2015 when the City of Poulsbo ended its contract with the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution services in Municipal Court. She resumed the additional role of city clerk in November 2015 after Nicole Stephens resigned.

The city saved an estimated $55,000 in switching to in-house prosecution; Erickson said the money is being used to pay for a school resource officer in the North Kitsap School District.