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Defender General flags staffing, investigator pay and training gaps in FY27 request
Summary
Defender General Miss Valerio told the Appropriations Committee the FY27 request preserves current service levels but leaves unfunded needs—raising serious‑felony unit pay to $200,000, increasing investigator rates, and restoring training funding into the base were among priorities she urged the committee to consider.
Miss Valerio, the Defender General, presented the public defense FY27 budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee and described two budget sides: primary public defender offices (staff and contracted primary public defenders) and the conflict/assigned counsel side that handles referred conflicts and caseload relief.
Valerio said the governor’s recommended budget continues current service levels and covers a salary and benefit rollout, but she identified specific unfunded or only partially funded needs. She proposed raising serious‑felony unit funding from $150,000 per unit (the original FY2002 appropriation level) to $200,000 to reflect current costs. She also described pressure…
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