To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
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Appropriation Transfers from the "Contingencies" Budget Unit for the Courts-County Contribution to Indigent Defense in Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-22 (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve an appropriation transfer from the "Contingencies" budget unit for the Courts-County Contribution (fund 1100, budget unit 250) in the amount of $260,000 for unanticipated indigent defense expenses for fiscal year 2020-21 (4/5 vote required); and
2. Approve an appropriation transfer from the "Contingencies" budget unit for the Courts-County Contribution (fund 1100, budget unit 250) in the amount of $466,000 for unanticipated indigent defense expenses for fiscal year 2021-22 (4/5 vote required).
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
The Courts-County Contribution received a General Fund Contribution in fiscal year (FY) 2020-21 of $936,573 and a General Fund Contribution in FY 2021-22 of $954,415 to provide outside counsel, investigators and experts for indigent defense that could not be assigned to the Humboldt County Public Defenders Offices. Additionally, utility costs for the state court areas are paid from this budget unit, as are transcripts that are required to be paid by the county. There are unexpected overages totaling an estimated $260,000 for FY 2020-21 and $466,000 for FY 2021-22. The overdraft in services and supplies are due to a marked increase in the utilization of experts and counsel in defense of criminal cases, and an increase in transcript costs. A number of overlapping mandates from the United States Constitution to the California Penal Code require the county to provide indigent defense. Funding for this increased expense is available through a transfer from the "Contingencies" budget unit within the General Fund.
Staff recommend that...
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