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Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing the Indigent Defense appropriations by $50,000, due to higher than anticipated Fiscal Year 2018-19 expenses and increasing the Superior Court traffic bail revenue by $50,000, due to higher than anticipated Fiscal Year 2018-19 revenue collection. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: Court fees.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Chief Administrative Office recommends the Board approve the budget transfer increasing appropriations in order to process FY 2018-19 expenses as ordered by the Superior Court of California for Indigent Defense, and to increase traffic school budgeted revenue received by the Superior Court.
The Indigent Defense program consists of Court appointed private attorneys serving as indigent conflict counsel for those cases where either the Judge or the County Public Defender has determined a conflict exists.
The program includes a contract with a local law firm to coordinate a panel of attorneys. In addition, the program includes funding for court ordered services associated with the defense of indigent clients.
Fiscal year 18/19 ancillary costs were budgeted at $357,226. An influx of complex cases and the necessary assignment of these cases outside of the conflict panel has meant program costs have significantly increased. The Department is requesting an increase in appropriations of $50,000 so that all FY 18/19 expense claims may be paid.
Based on year-to-date actual receipts, the Superior Court traffic school revenue is anticipated to be approximately $400,000 for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The original budget amount for this revenue was $348,352. Increasing the budgeted revenue amount by $50,000 will offset the increased appropriations request for Indigent Defense for the Department.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the budget transfer, however, the department may not be able to issue all court ord...
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