Agenda Item # 6
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
07/11/2017
Agenda Report # 6
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY18 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 $2,003,255 from July 2017
to June 2018 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
(GPDSC) for $1,417,009 and for $70,850, 5% administrative fee (GPDSC payment is
included in the total amount of $2,003,255); authorize the Mayor and/or City
Manager to have signature authority.
Background: The Circuit Public Defender will provide public defender personnel
in Superior, Juvenile, and Recorder?s courts totaling $2,003,255 of which
$1,417,009 and an administrative fee of $70,850 is paid in monthly installments
to the GPDSC for a total of $1,487,859. 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
FY18 budget for a total of $515,397. Included in this FY18 contract is a
continuation of funding for two Assistant Public Defenders funded from the
General Fund for the Rapid Resolution Initiative that began in FY16. As of
FY17, this contract also includes funding for one Assistant Public Defender and
supplements for the Chief Public Defender and Assistant Chief Public Defender
due to providing representation in Recorder?s Court. In the contract, the
prorated share of all costs are outlined as follows: Muscogee - $1,843,768;
Chattahoochee - $5,125; Harris - $114,000; Marion - $12,193; Talbot - $12,220;
Taylor - $15,949 for a total of $2,003,255. 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 FY18 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 $2,003,255
from July 2017 to June 2018 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council (GPDSC) for $1,417,009 and for $70,850, 5% administrative fee
(GPDSC payment is included in the total amount of $2,003,255); 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 CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT AND MUSCOGEE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,003,255 FROM JULY 2017 TO JUNE
2018 AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER STANDARDS COUNCIL
(GPDSC) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,487,859 PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF $126,988.25
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 $1,487,859 for state paid
personnel and administrative fee for the period of July 2017 to June 2018 and
Columbus Consolidated Government personnel and operating expenses of $515,397
with Muscogee County?s prorated share of all expenses to be $1,843,768.
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
$2,003,255 from July 2017 to June 2018 and authorize payment to the GPDSC in
the amount of $1,417,009 plus the administrative fee of $70,850 to be paid in
monthly installments of $126,988.25 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 _____, 2017 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 Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_______________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments