Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 10, 2007
Agenda Report # 165
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY08 Public Defender Contract
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
________________________________________________________________________________
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Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into an agreement for Indigent
Defense Services between Circuit Public Defender Office of the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County in the amount of $1,221,831 from July 2007
to June 2008; authorize the Mayor to have signature authority.
Background: The Circuit Public Defender will provide public defender personnel
in Superior and Juvenile Court in consideration of an administrative fee of 7%
($49,848). These services include payroll, fringe benefits, training, travel,
computer hardware, computer software and legal research software. Additional
support staff and operational expenses are funded in the FY08 Budget. In the
contract, the prorated share of costs are outlined as follows: Muscogee -
$1,114,310; Chattahoochee - $3,666; Harris - $69,644; Marion - $9,775; Talbot -
$10,996; Taylor - $13,440 for a total of $1,221,831. Muscogee County acts as
the fiscal agent for the Circuit Public Defender.
Analysis: The Circuit Public Defender, City Attorney?s Office and the Finance
Department have reviewed this contract. The contract includes a $14,000 local
supplement for the Public Defender that was not included in the FY08 Adopted
Budget.
Financial Considerations: The administrative fee of $49,848 is included in the
FY08 Budget along with personnel and operating costs of $445,873.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to enter
into this contract.
Recommendations/Actions: Approve an agreement for Indigent Defense Services
between Circuit Public Defender Office of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit
and Muscogee County in the amount of $1,221,831 from July 2007 to June 2008 and
authorize the Mayor to have signature authority.
A RESOLUTION
No.______
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPROVAL TO ENTER INOT AN AGREEMENT FOR INDIGENT
DEFENSE SERVICES BETWEEN CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND MUSCOGEE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,171,983 FROM JULY 2007
TO JUNE 2008 AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $49,848 PAID TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICE OF THE COURTS (AOC);
WHEREAS, the Circuit Public Defender Office of the Chattahoochee Judicial
Circuit was created in January 2005 by the Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003
and provides that a consolidated government may contract with the circuit
public defender for the provision of criminal defense for indigent persons in
Superior and Juvenile courts; and,
WHEREAS, the contract specifies the amount of $1,221,831 for personnel and
operating costs for the period of July 2007 to June 2008 and Muscogee County?s
prorated share of expenses to be $1,114,310.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the Mayor and/or the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into an
agreement for Indigent Defense Services between Circuit Public Defender Office
of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County in the amount of
$1,171,983 from July 2007 to June 2008 and the administrative fee of $49,848 to
the AOC, of which the prorated share for Muscogee County to be $1,114,310; and
authorize the Mayor to have signature authority.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on
the____ day of
_____, 2007 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ____ members
of said
Council.
Councilor Allen voting _____
Councilor Anthony voting _____
Councilor Davis voting _____
Councilor Henderson voting _____
Councilor Hunter voting _____
Councilor McDaniel voting _____
Councilor Barnes voting _____
Councilor Baker voting _____
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _____
Councilor Woodson voting _____
___________________ _________________ _
Tiny B. Washington Jim Wetherington
Clerk of Council Mayor
Attachments