City attorney costs spark debate over budget transparency

During a recent city commission meeting, City Manager Michael Sargis and Finance Director Kelly Scharz presented an overview of the city attorney's expenditures and the process for selecting a new city attorney. The discussions highlighted the financial implications of legal services for the city, comparing costs with other municipalities in Broward County.

Sargis reported that the city had reached out to 30 cities in the county to gather data on their legal expenditures. Of the 20 responses received, costs for city attorneys varied significantly. For instance, the Town of Southwest Ranches spends approximately $440,000 annually, while the City of Tamarac allocates around $740,000. Other cities, such as Lauderhill, reported expenditures as high as $960,000. In contrast, cities with in-house attorneys, like Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs, maintain larger legal teams, reflecting their more extensive operational needs.

The commission also discussed the rationale behind not issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for legal services, citing that professional services are exempt from competitive bidding. Instead, the city will seek letters of interest as part of the selection process for both interim and permanent city attorneys.

Sargis detailed the current retainer for the city attorney's office, which stands at $190,700 through July, with additional costs expected to bring the total to approximately $235,000 for the year. The commission raised questions regarding the necessity of outsourcing certain legal services, particularly when the city has its own human resources department. Sargis clarified that while some legal inquiries may not incur additional charges, more complex issues requiring detailed legal research would result in hourly billing.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to transparency in its legal expenditures and the importance of evaluating the cost-effectiveness of its legal services as it moves forward with the selection of a new city attorney.