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Commissioners OK Potter County share of Panhandle public defender budget increase, authorize resolution for TIDC submission
Summary
Potter County signed a continuing resolution and approved forwarding its portion of a Panhandle Area Public Defender budget to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; the county's share was cited as roughly $30,000.
Potter County Commissioners voted 5-0 to sign a continuing resolution so the Panhandle Area Public Defender (PAPD) can submit its budget to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC).
Jason, representing the PAPD, told the court the joint office serves multiple counties under a TIDC grant and must submit its budget by May 9. He said Potter County’s share of the proposed increase is “slightly over $30,000” to fund a six-year rollout of pay levels and to add positions in response to caseloads.
Jason said the increase covers two additional attorney positions (for Hereford and Dumas offices), an investigator in Dumas, and a support staff (executive assistant) position that will take nonlegal phone calls and free paralegals to perform paralegal duties. He said the new positions would begin Oct. 1 and that TIDC will cover 66% of the overall budget.
The court’s budget subcommittee divided the PAPD request “based on actual case appointments,” Jason said, explaining variations across counties (for example, Deaf Smith County had a large increase because its appointments rose from six misdemeanor cases to more than 200 after PAPD began service there).
After discussion the court approved a motion to sign the continuing resolution and to submit Potter County’s expected expenditures to TIDC. The judge said staff will incorporate the additional county cost in the October budget cycle.
