District attorney seeks county approval of $12.50 court-cost funding authorized by state legislature

Jennings Jones, district attorney for Rutherford and Cannon counties, asked commissioners to approve a resolution implementing a $12.50 court cost the state legislature authorized to provide funding for prosecutors.

"Some years ago, the legislature approved a $12.50 court cost, for the public defender's office to assist with their funding. This this year pardon me. It it had to be, approved again by the county commission," Jones said, adding that the legislature this year approved similar funding for the district attorney's office contingent on county approval. "This is a cost that is not paid by the county. It does not come from the county coffers. This comes from an additional court cost paid for by the folks who my office is prosecuting for crimes that are committed within Rutherford County. Additionally, this allows me to, fund my office, without having to come to y'all and and ask for further funding."

Commissioners discussed process and whether the item requires a two-thirds vote when it is considered by the full commission. Jones and staff clarified the public defender's $12.50 is a separate court cost and would not be shared with the district attorney's office. The steering committee will review the resolution and return recommendations to the commission.

The commission voted to forward the resolution to steering for review; a formal vote by the full commission will follow. Commissioners noted that, if adopted later by the full commission, the cost is assessed through the court system and paid by people convicted in county courts rather than from county general-fund appropriations.