Action 22.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Public Defender
- Meeting Date:
- 05/10/2016
- Title:
- Increase Public Defender total salary fund to fill a vacant attorney position for felony cases
- Submitted By:
- Delores Putnam, Public Defender
- Department:
- Public Defender
Presentation:
Recommendation:
Document Signatures:
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Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve an increase to the Public Defender total salary fund of $46,632, or $55,618 including benefits, for the purpose of filling a vacant attorney position for felony case representation.
Background:
Between FY10/11 and FY14/15 felony cases requiring attorney appointment by the Indigent Defense Coordinator dropped to a five year average of 695 cases. For the past few years, the Public Defender held one entry level attorney position vacant based on the reduced felony case numbers and to generate vacancy savings. The Indigent Defense Coordinator is now projecting that felony cases for FY15/16 will exceed that five year average by 44% for a total of 1,004 cases. Many of these cases include serious charges and require experienced counsel. The current Public Defender total salary fund budget will not support filling our vacant attorney position with an experienced attorney capable of handling these cases.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Once approved the Public Defender will work with the Human Resources Department to recruit and fill the vacant attorney position as a senior level position at a salary in the range of $74,000 to $76,000 as soon as possible.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Additional cost to the county general fund in the form of private attorney appointments to felony cases that could otherwise be represented by the Public Defender.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Notify Mark Suagee and Delores Putnam of the Public Defender Department when approved to begin the recruitment process .
Fiscal Impact
- Fiscal Year:
- FY15/16
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- $55,618
- Ongoing Costs? ($$$):
- $55,618
- County Match Required? ($$$):
- 0
- A-87 Overhead Amt? (Co. Cost Allocation $$$):
- 0
- Source of Funding?:
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
General funds needed to increase Public Defender total salary fund by $46,632 plus $8,986 in benefits for a total of $55,168 to fill one vacant attorney position as an attorney III.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.