Council approves $21,000 to expand public defender contract as caseload surges

Fulton County council members voted unanimously to approve an additional appropriation to convert a part‑time contracted public defender into a full‑time contract amid a surge in cases.

Mackenzie, speaking for the public defender office, told the council the office closed 2024 with 774 cases, up from 650 the prior year, and that caseloads continued to increase this year. She said as of the Monday when she ran numbers the office had 412 active cases and had taken in 30 more by the time of the meeting; she said that number was expected to rise to about 442 by the end of the month.

Mackenzie said the office currently uses three full‑time contracted attorneys and one part‑time contract; the appropriation will fund converting that part‑time contract to full time. She said doing so would increase in‑house capacity and reduce reliance on conflict attorneys, which she said cost the county more on a per‑case basis. Mackenzie provided a conservative per‑case cost comparison in the packet: approximately $414 per case for a contracted attorney vs. $550 per case for a conflict attorney, noting the county receives a 40% reimbursement from the state for eligible public defender expenses.

Council member Chase moved to approve the $21,000 additional appropriation from county general account 1001 (account 32042) to fund the contract change; Patty seconded. The motion passed 7-0.

Mackenzie told members the office had exhausted the previously approved additional appropriation and that the transfer request submitted on May 9 would proceed through the commissioners. She said the county’s participation in the state reimbursement program means roughly 40% of eligible expenses will be returned to the county’s general fund.

Council members asked clarifying questions about reporting and the reimbursement flow; Mackenzie said reimbursements are returned to county general.