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Commissioners approve briefing to extend contracted criminal-defense hourly rate through year-end; staff may transfer up to $100,000 if needed
Summary
Staff briefed the board on extending an hourly-rate increase for contracted criminal-defense attorneys through December and requested authority to transfer up to $100,000 from salaries and benefits into operating if costs exceed current projections.
County staff presented a request to extend an hourly-rate increase for contracted criminal-defense attorneys that was set to expire, proposing the extension through the end of the calendar year. The staff member said county Finance Director Jen advised that salary savings and other offsets likely make a budget transfer unnecessary, but recommended the board authorize staff to transfer up to $100,000 from salaries and benefits to operating if required to cover contract costs. "Makes sense?" the staff member asked; commissioners responded that they were comfortable giving the requested authority. No formal vote was recorded during the briefing; staff said they will move forward with the extension and employ the transfer authority only if needed.
