Agenda Item # 6
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 12, 2016
Agenda Report # 04
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY17 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 $1,641,981 from July 2016
to June 2017 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender Standards Council
(GPDSC) for $1,131,142 and for $56,557, 5% administrative fee (GPDSC payment is
included in the total amount of $1,641,981); 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 $1,641,981 of which $1,131,142 and an
administrative fee of $56,557 is paid in monthly installments to the GPDSC for
a total of $1,187,699. 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 FY17 budget
for a total of $454,282. Included in this FY17 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. In the contract, the prorated
share of all costs are outlined as follows: Muscogee - $1,482,494;
Chattahoochee - $5,125; Harris - $114,000; Marion - $12,193; Talbot - $12,220;
Taylor - $15,949 for a total of $1,641,981. 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 FY17 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 $1,641,981
from July 2016 to June 2017 and authorize payment to Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council (GPDSC) for $1,131,142 and for $56,557, 5% administrative fee
(GPDSC payment is included in the total amount of $1,641,981); 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 $1,641,981 FROM JULY 2016 TO JUNE
2017 AND AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO THE GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER STANDARDS COUNCIL
(GPDSC) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,187,699 PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF $98,974.92
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 $1,131,142 for state paid
personnel and administrative fee for the period of July 2016 to June 2017 and
Columbus Consolidated Government personnel and operating expenses of $454,282
with Muscogee County?s prorated share of all expenses to be $1,482,494.
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
$1,641,981 from July 2016 to June 2017 and authorize payment to the GPDSC in
the amount of $1,131,142 plus the administrative fee of $56,557 to be paid in
monthly installments of $98,974.92 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 _____, 2016 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
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