Committee approves DCJS aid-to-prosecution grant amendment to cover overtime and discovery platform costs

At a personnel meeting, the committee approved a budgetary amendment to accept an increased Aid to Prosecution grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and to authorize use of that funding for overtime, a discovery platform and one-time payments for staff.

The amendment was presented by the district attorney, identified in the record as Mr. Pengy, who said the office had reviewed its budget with Mike Lewis and Kevin Byrne and that the aid-to-prosecution award had grown from the roughly $33,000 level the office previously received to about $214,000. "We want to take the cost for our overtime segments and for the new Axon cost. Axon is a discovery platform we've got to pay for," Mr. Pengy said. He added that the payments would be one-time and "does not go into the legacy cost," and that "none of this money is coming out of the tax credit dollars. It's all from grants."

Why it matters: The committee framed the amendment as a grant- funded response to increased workload tied to discovery reforms and associated technology costs. Committee members praised the district attorney's office for retaining staff under heavy workloads and sought a clear accounting of how the newly available grant funds would be applied.

Discussion and clarifications: Committee members asked for a line-item breakdown once allocations are finalized. One member asked whether the finance office would receive "a line item as in where the actual dollars go into the actual" personnel lines; the question was directed at Mike Lewis, who was present as budget staff. Committee members also noted that unused grant funds would expire if not spent in time—"if you don't use it by [the deadline], you're losing it," a committee member said—underscoring the need to allocate and spend the grant within the grant period.

Votes and outcome: A motion to move the item forward was made and seconded; the committee voted in favor. The amendment was approved.

Implementation notes: The district attorney said the increased grant would cover overtime and the Axon discovery platform cost and that bonuses funded under the amendment would be one-time payments rather than salary increases. Committee members asked that the finance office or the DA provide a breakdown showing which personnel lines or expense lines the grant money is applied to once decisions are finalized.

Ending: Committee members expressed support for using the grant to retain experienced prosecutors while making a record that the funds are grant- restricted and not drawn from local tax dollars.