County counsel outlines lower-cost legal services as public speakers criticize outside counsel

Tulare County Counsel presented a comparison of legal services options to the Tulare Public Cemetery District on a county agenda item that was delivered as information only, highlighting lower hourly rates and broader in-house teams as potential cost savings and service capacity for the district.

The presentation noted Best Best & Krieger’s general-counsel rate previously charged to the district and contrasted it with recently adopted county-counsel rates. County Counsel said the average monthly cost while the firm was retained was about $5,204.63, and that the district’s projected annual cost using outside counsel was about $62,455 compared with County Counsel’s projection of roughly $36,860 per year. County Counsel told the board the county has five legal teams (administrative hearings/special services, resource team for tax/land-use/property matters, Justice/Employment/Health, protective services, and litigation) and that deputies with subject-matter experience would be assigned as needed.

The item was informational only; the board did not take formal action on legal representation during the presentation.

Public commenters urged the board to reconsider the district’s retained firm and raised concerns about the firm’s responses to public-records requests. Alberto Aguilar, who identified himself as a member of the public, said of the firm’s attorney, “He has responded by saying that the information has already been provided, which is not true.” Anna Lamone said she had requested her mother’s records and described the firm’s response as “a cop out, cover up.” Other speakers voiced general support for returning more legal work to the county.

County Counsel also supplied usage data: Best Best & Krieger spent about 120 hours advising the district over a seven-month period while the firm served the cemetery district. The presentation listed ordinary additional charges (printing, postage, travel) that would apply if the county’s in-house teams incurred unusual expenses beyond their hourly rates.

Speakers from the public and board used the presentation and subsequent public comments to press for clearer records and better responsiveness from outside counsel; board members and staff said the county office can assign deputies such as Tom Dane when subject-specific expertise is required.

The board did not vote on legal representation during this item; the discussion closed as a presentation and moved to the next agenda item.

Ending: Members of the public and the board left the presentation with the issue unresolved; several commenters urged the board to move legal work in-house, and County Counsel provided the cost and staffing comparisons the board requested for future consideration.