Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item #1



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



10/11/2005



Agenda Report #49



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Public Defender Contract Amendment



INITIATED BY: Finance Department







Recommendation: Approve a contract amendment that allows travel

reimbursement to be increased from $ 0.28/mile to $0.485/mile as approved by

the state of Georgia.





Background: On July 12, 2005, the Columbus Council approved a contract

with the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to provide public defender services to

Superior Court and Juvenile Court per the provisions of the Georgia Indigent

Defense Act of 2003. Article 4 ? Travel and Reimbursement of Expenses

specifically states that the rate will be $0.28/mile. All the counties in

the circuit for consistency purposes agreed upon this amount. Now the State

of Georgia has increased its rate to $0.485/mile. Staff is requesting that

Council approve the contract amendment.



Analysis: While the legislature was in special session, the Senate passed Bill

1 EX tying the mileage reimbursement for use of a personal vehicle to the rate

established by the United States General Services Administration pursuant to

the Federal Travel Regulations Amendment as of July 1, 2005. The rate of

reimbursement of $0.485 is effective as of July 1 and the state allows for the

mileage increase be effective for mileage incurred after September 10, 2005.

This new rate will be higher than the reimbursement rate for employees outside

of the Public Defender?s Office that is currently $0.36/mile.





Financial Considerations: The contract amendment does not require additional

funding for the Public Defender?s budget.



Legal Considerations: O.C.G.A. ?50-19-7 as amended allows the use of a personal

motor vehicle rate of reimbursement to be 48.5 cents.



Recommendations/ Actions: Approve a contract amendment that allows travel

reimbursement to be increased from $ 0.28/mile to $0.485/mile as approved by

the State of Georgia.