Commission authorizes $12.50 per conviction fee to fund district attorney's conference

Putnam County commissioners voted to authorize a $12.50 fee to be assessed on each misdemeanor and felony conviction under Tennessee Code Annotated 40-3-106 to create a fund for the district attorney's use. The commission recorded a roll-call vote of 22 yes, 0 no, 2 absent and declared the motion passed.

District Attorney Brian Dunaway explained the statute and how the fund would be used: "The legislature passed this public chapter this this spring went into effect on on May 5. And what it does is it authorizes each county commission by 2 thirds majority vote to authorize the assessment of $12.50 fee on every misdemeanor or felony conviction. ... Cases that are dismissed, obviously, or found somebody found not guilty would not be assessed that and does not apply to non moving traffic violations either. And what this does is it creates a fund that would be utilized by the district attorney, and held by the conference's office, for the use for public safety issues, funding. Examples would include, law enforcement equipment for my investigators, services for victims, [and] travel for victims that may have trouble getting to court."

Dunaway said there is no existing budget line for the district attorney to use for these purposes and that the fee would create a dedicated resource to support investigative equipment and victim services. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether the county currently charged a similar fee; Dunaway said the county previously authorized an identical amount for the benefit of the public defender's conference and that he expected similar yields but did not have an estimate for projected revenues.

The commission approved the resolution by roll call and recorded the vote as 22 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.