Discuss, consider and approve setting a budget of $559,637 from the ARPA Funding (American Rescue Plan Act) for project 445P District Clerk Jury Staff.

Below is an overview of the need for 3 Jury Staff and attached are the expenses associated with creating the 3 positions.
Jury Coordinator/Jury Clerk
The COVID pandemic has brought on many challenges in meeting the needs of the backlog of cases with the District and County Courts in Williamson County. January 2021, we began using a new jury system that would assign jurors directly to the courts and not have the mass gatherings for jurors in the impaneling room. This system has many processes that entail the managing of jurors daily with information and assisting in filling out jury questionnaires. The court currently have 109 juries requested through the end of 2022 due to the backlog. Williamson County also has 2 new courts approved to begin October 2022. This will only increase the juries that have been waiting for the last 2 1/2 years due to COVID to get a jury trial. I have 3 clerks that have other duties that have increased due to the courts coming back in session due to COVID that have been responsible for the managing of the juries for these courts. Additional clerks to manage the jury is the most efficient means to assist jury request when needed.