Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 24, 2012
Agenda Report # 079
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY13 Public Defender Contract
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
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 $1,324,670 from July 2012
to June 2013 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
(GPDSC) for $828,291 and for $41,415, 5% administrative fee (GPDSC payment is
included in the total amount of $1,324,670).
Background: The Circuit Public Defender will provide public defender personnel
in Superior and Juvenile Court totaling $1,324,670 of which $828,291 and an
administrative fee of $41,415 is paid in monthly installments to the GPDSC for
a total of $869,706. These services include payroll, fringe benefits,
training, travel, computer hardware, computer software and legal research
software. Support staff and operational expenses are funded in the FY13 budget
for a total of $454,964. Included in this contract is an additional Assistant
Public Defender funded from the new 2009 Other Local Option Sales Tax. In the
contract, the prorated share of all costs is outlined as follows: Muscogee -
$1,208,100; Chattahoochee - $3,974; Harris - $75,506; Marion - $10,597; Talbot
- $11,922; Taylor - $14,571 for a total of $1,324,669. 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.
Financial Considerations: The agreement is budgeted in the FY13 Adopted Budget.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: This is an annual contract.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to enter
into this contract.
Recommendations/Actions: 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 $1,324,670
from July 2012 to June 2013 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council (GPDSC) for $828,291 and for $41,415, 5% administrative fee
(GPDSC payment is included in the total amount of $1,324,670); authorize the
Mayor and/or City Manager to have signature authority.
A RESOLUTION
NO. # ____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE
SERVICES BETWEEN THE CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND MUSCOGEE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,324,670 FROM JULY 2012
TO JUNE 2013 AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER STANDARDS
COUNCIL (GPDSC) IN THE AMOUNT OF $869,706 PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF WHICH
IS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT;
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 $869,706 for state paid personnel
and administrative fee for the period of July 2012 to June 2013 and Columbus
Consolidated Government personnel and operating expenses of $454,964 with
Muscogee County?s prorated share of all expenses to be $1,208,100.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the Mayor and the City Manager are 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
$1,324,670 from July 2012 to June 2013 and authorize payment to the GPDSC paid
in monthly installment of $828,291 plus the administrative fee of $41,415 of
which is included in the total amount; and authorize the Mayor and City Manager
to have signature authority.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on
the____ day of _____, 2012 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting ________________.
Councilor Baker voting ________________.
Councilor Barnes voting ________________.
Councilor Davis voting ________________.
Councilor Henderson voting ________________.
Councilor Huff voting ________________.
Councilor McDaniel voting ________________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting ________________.
Councilor Thomas voting ________________.
Councilor Woodson voting ________________.
__________________________________ ______________________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments