Lakewood leaders warn indigent defense costs will outpace local funding without state action

Paul Bokey told legislators that Lakewood and peer cities face mounting indigent defense costs that local budgets struggle to absorb. He said the city receives some state grant assistance (two $40,000 grants were cited) but that indigent defense costs are still substantial and rising; staff described local estimates of a little over $1,000,000 in indigent-defense costs beyond current resources.

Bokey referenced prior legislation and proposals, including a bill cited in the meeting as Senate Bill 5404 (sponsor: Sen. Nobles) that did not make it out of the Senate, and said statewide litigation (identified in the discussion as involving WOSAC) has increased pressure on local systems. A legislator asked how much revenue the 2015 public-safety tax would generate; the mayor said implementation timed with the new council could yield about $2,000,000 to Lakewood.

City staff (Mister Vargas) said financial projections show a budget delta (a gap) beginning around 2027 even if the 2015 tax was dedicated entirely to indigent defense; officials said costs are expected to keep rising and that short-term fixes would likely be insufficient without a longer-term solution.

Legislators in the room expressed sympathy and said they would listen and consider pathways to support, but several cautioned that the short session and the state's budget deficit make large new commitments unlikely this year.

Next steps: City officials will continue to present fiscal analyses and work with legislative staff; no vote or new statute arose from the meeting.