Public Defender Service Corporation board approves FY2027 budget as leaders flag funding risks

The Board of Trustees for the Public Defender Service Corporation approved a FY2027 budget request of roughly $13,259,000 on March 10, citing the corporation’s new responsibility for payments previously handled by the judiciary and modest staffing and program additions.

Management described the FY2027 plan as largely a rollover of the prior year with targeted increases for personnel and operational needs. "Altogether, we're looking at a request of $13,259,000," the Chair said during presentation materials review. The board was told personnel costs account for about $10.2–$10.3 million of that total and operational expenses about $3.21 million.

Why it matters: The corporation is inheriting some billing and payment duties from the judiciary, and trustees pressed management on whether the moved responsibilities and related receivables had been reconciled. "We have procedures to handle everything since 10/1," the Presenter said, noting staff and fiscal teams are already processing transferred bills. Trustees flagged uncertainty about receivables and whether first-quarter collections represent backlog that will clear or ongoing obligations that require general-fund support.

Key details: Management said the FY27 request represents roughly an $941,000 increase over FY26, or about an 8% rise, with approximately 64–65% of the increase attributable to personnel. The budget also includes a $30,000 allocation described as an "expert loan" for appointed-defense work, an approximately $100,000 pool for expert witnesses and investigators, and about $15,000 for capital outlay tied to minor renovations.

Funding concerns: Trustees and staff discussed the client service trust fund — historically a source of court-appointed counsel fees — and how portions of that fund now appear in the general fund. A trustee warned that elements of the trust fund (for interpreters, "Eric's House" and other items) could be reallocated, leaving less to support expert and investigator costs. "If they put our operational expense too much, then we won't be able to pay the ... [bills]," a trustee said during the discussion.

Expert and investigator use: Presenters emphasized an intention to expand investigator use — both to improve case preparation and to achieve cost-efficiencies versus attorney time for basic tasks — and discussed plans to cap some expert rates or explore peer jurisdictions' caps to control costs.

Procurement and systems: The corporation is in the planning phase for a case-management procurement; implementation timing and costs will shift based on the procurement process and the legislature’s eventual appropriation.

Board action and next steps: After discussion, a trustee moved to approve the budget as presented; the motion passed on a voice vote. The board also approved a draft resolution amending the corporation’s bylaws (Resolution 101-26) with a minor edit to add a "whereas" clause indicating when the board voted; the resolution’s blank line items will be filled with the approved amounts before submission. Trustees set the next meeting for Tuesday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m.

What remains unresolved: Trustees requested continued reconciliation of court-era receivables and clarification of how much of the client service trust fund will remain available for experts, interpreters and other program needs. Management said it will continue reconciling inherited billing and will work with the judiciary and legislature if gaps emerge.

The board adjourned after scheduling its next meeting and completing public discussion.