Agenda Item # 3
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 14, 2015
Agenda Report # 03
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY16 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 $1,599,347 from July 2015
to June 2016 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
(GPDSC) for $1,030,020 and for $51,501, 5% administrative fee (GPDSC payment is
included in the total amount of $1,599,347); authorize the Mayor and/or City
Manager to have signature authority.
Background: The Circuit Public Defender will provide public defender personnel
in Superior and Juvenile Court totaling $1,599,347 of which $1,030,020 and an
administrative fee of $51,501 is paid in monthly installments to the GPDSC for
a total of $1,081,521. 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 FY16 budget
for a total of $517,825. Included in this contract are two additional
Assistant Public Defenders funded from the General Fund for the Rapid
Resolution Initiative. In the contract, the prorated share of all costs are
outlined as follows: Muscogee - $1,440,961; Chattahoochee - $5,000; Harris -
$114,000; Marion - $11,896; Talbot - $11,922; Taylor - $15,568 for a total of
$1,599,059. 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 FY16 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 $1,599,347
from July 2015 to June 2016 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council (GPDSC) for $1,030,020 and for $51,501, 5% administrative fee
(GPDSC payment is included in the total amount of $1,599,347); 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 $1,599,347 FROM JULY 2015 TO JUNE
2016 AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER STANDARDS COUNCIL
(GPDSC) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,081,521 PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF $$90,126.75
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 $1,081,521 for state paid
personnel and administrative fee for the period of July 2015 to June 2016 and
Columbus Consolidated Government personnel and operating expenses of $517,826
with Muscogee County?s prorated share of all expenses to be $1,440,961.
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
$1,599,347 from July 2015 to June 2016 and authorize payment to the GPDSC paid
in monthly installment of $1,030,020 plus the administrative fee of $51,501 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 _____, 2015 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________ ______________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Evelyn Turner-Pugh, Mayor Pro Tem
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