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Commissioners assign asset numbers for three DA vehicles and a $60,000 mock courtroom; questions raised about cost
Summary
Finance staff secured board approval to assign asset numbers so the District Attorney's Office can acquire three vehicles and construct a $60,000 mock courtroom; commissioners requested additional justification for the courtroom expense and discussed reuse of county hearing space.
County finance staff presented a request to assign fixed asset numbers for three District Attorney vehicles and for a $60,000 mock courtroom buildout and furnishings.
Tom/Todd Weaver (Finance) explained that the DA's investigators are assigned vehicles and that the county is transitioning those vehicles from leased units to purchased assets so they join the county's replacement cycle. "We're switching from the leasing model to purchase vehicles and then, essentially, pay them for their future replacement to get them on that replacement cycle," Weaver said. Staff said there is sufficient appropriation in fund 70 to proceed with the purchases now, and that budget adjustments can be made at the fourth quarter review.
On the mock courtroom, staff said the DA will budget and pay for the $60,000 improvement from the DA's existing budget and has submitted a procurement waiver for the selected vendor. "The mock courtroom will be budgeted and spent out of the DA's existing budget," Weaver said.
Several commissioners expressed procedural and prudential concerns about the $60,000 amount and whether existing county hearing rooms (the East Hearing Room was cited) could meet training needs. "I do have a concern. It is $60,000. I would like to know what it is that we don't know," one commissioner said, asking for clarity about why purchase is necessary rather than using existing county facilities.
After discussion, the board voted informally to assign the asset numbers and approve the three vehicles and the asset assignment for the mock courtroom so the procurement process can proceed; staff noted that substantive budget adjustments or the procurement waiver may return for formal paperwork.
Next steps: the DA's office and finance will complete procurement paperwork for vehicles and the courtroom work; staff will monitor year‑end budgets and return if additional appropriations are needed.
