Lincoln County commissioners table $5,926 witness-fee payment, seek legal clarification from state
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Summary
District Attorney Natasha Irving asked the commissioners to approve $5,926.20 in witness fees billed through the Maine Attorney General's Office; the board expressed concerns about statutory responsibility and fairness and tabled the payment request pending a legal memo or internal resolution from the Attorney General's Office.
District Attorney Natasha Irving presented a Payment Authorization for $5,926.20 to cover witness fees submitted by the Maine Attorney General's Office for an expert witness in a homicide case. The invoice was described as uncommon—this was the first such bill to be submitted to a county in eight years—and the DA said the situation stemmed from limitations in the state's witness-fee fund.
Commissioners questioned whether state statutes require counties to cover certain prosecution expenses and expressed concern about fairness to local taxpayers when the county had no control over state decisions that generated the cost. The discussion referenced Title 15 and the extradition fund as possible authorities for covering prosecution-related costs, but county officials said both the DA's regular witness-fee budget and the extradition fund lack sufficient funds at present.
Because the legal basis and historical practice were unclear, the commissioners tabled the vote on the payment and asked District Attorney Irving to contact the Maine Attorney General's Office to request a legal explanation or memorandum and to seek an internal resolution before the next meeting. The transcript does not record a formal vote tally for the tabling motion.
Why it matters: The request raises a recurring policy question for counties—whether and when local taxpayers must shoulder prosecution costs incurred or billed by state authorities. Commissioners indicated they want a definitive legal opinion before authorizing payment.
What’s next: The DA will contact the Attorney General's Office to seek clarification and report back at a future meeting; the payment remains tabled until that clarification is provided.