Agenda Item # 4
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
July 13, 2010
Agenda Report # 524
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: FY11 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 $1,230,661 from July 2010
to June 2011; 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 5%
($35,503). 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 FY11 budget. Included in this
contract is an Assistant Public Defender funded from the new 2009 Other Local
Option Sales Tax. In the contract, the prorated share of costs are outlined as
follows: Muscogee - $1,122,363; Chattahoochee - $3,692; Harris - $70,148;
Marion - $9,845; Talbot - $11,076; Taylor - $13,537 for a total of $1,230,661.
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 FY11 Adopted
Budget.
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 $1,230,661 from July 2010 to June 2011 and
authorize the Mayor 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 $1,230,661 FROM JULY 2010 TO JUNE
2011 AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $35,503 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 $1,230,661 for personnel and
operating costs for the period of July 2010 to June 2011 and Muscogee County?s
prorated share of expenses to be $1,122,363.
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
$1,230,661 from July 2010 to June 2011 and the administrative fee of $35,503 to
the AOC, of which the prorated share for Muscogee County to be $1,122,363; and
authorize the Mayor to have signature authority.
____________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on
the____ day of _____, 2010 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting _____.
Councilor Anthony voting _____.
Councilor Baker voting _____.
Councilor Barnes voting _____.
Councilor Davis voting _____.
Councilor Henderson voting _____.
Councilor Hunter voting _____.
Councilor McDaniel voting _____.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _____.
Councilor Woodson voting _____.
_____________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor
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