To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Transfer from the "Contingencies" Budget Unit and Supplemental Budget for the Courts-County Contribution to Indigent Defense in Fiscal Year 2019-20 (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
Approve a transfer from the "Contingencies" budget unit and supplemental budget for the Courts-County Contribution (fund 1100, budget unit 250) in the amount of $194,000 for unanticipated indigent defense expenses (4/5 vote required).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Courts-County Contribution received a General Fund Contribution in fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 of $936,573 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 $194,000 for FY 2019-20. 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 your Board approve the attached transfer from the "Contingencies" budget unit and supplemental budget for the Courts-County Contribution (1100-250) in the amount of $194,000 for increased indigent defense expense.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Unanticipated indigent defense expenses in Courts-County Contributions total $194,000. These expenses have been incurred and were required to provide mandated ...
Click here for full text