Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grand Jury topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board introduces ordinance to formalize grand jury pay at up to $25 per day and IRS mileage reimbursement
Summary
County staff recommended adding grand jury payments to county code to formalize a locally implemented $25 per day stipend and IRS mileage reimbursement; the board directed language setting a maximum of $25 and accepted the ordinance introduction.
The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 directed staff to introduce an ordinance adding Article 7 to Chapter 2 of the Kings County Code to formalize grand jury payments and fees. Veronica Mello of the County Administrative Office said California Penal Code sections cited in staff materials entitle grand jurors to a daily stipend and mileage reimbursement but prior local action in 2023 had increased the stipend administratively to $25 per day without codifying it.
Staff told the board it would return before July 1, 2026, with a comparative analysis recommending whether to maintain or change the $25 daily rate. Several supervisors said keeping the $25 stipend would help recruit jurors from underrepresented parts of the county. Counsel advised that an ordinance could be written to allow payment up to $25 so that future administrative adjustments within that not‑to‑exceed figure would not require a code change.
A member of the grand jury attending the meeting said the panel had not been notified about the analysis and requested notice. The board directed staff to proceed with an ordinance that specified a maximum of $25 per day and continued mileage at the IRS rate; the clerk recorded a 4–1 vote to introduce the ordinance.
Staff said the ordinance would be published and take effect 30 days after approval; the CAO will return with final language and the outcome of the updated comparative analysis prior to the July 1, 2026 effective rate decision.
