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County Attorney Jennifer Broen briefs commissioners on past-due fees and proposed renewal with regional public defenders office
Summary
County Attorney Jennifer Broen told commissioners the county owes $128,351.76 to the Regional Public Defenders Office for capital defense work and said the office proposed settling for $110,810 and renewing an interlocal agreement through September 2027; Broen said she had not received the written agreement and recommended no action until it is reviewed.
County Attorney Jennifer Broen told Brown County commissioners the county owes the Regional Public Defenders Office $128,351.76 for capital defense services and reported that the office has proposed accepting a reduced settlement of $110,810 and entering a renewed interlocal agreement through September 2027.
Broen said the proposed renewal would carry an anticipated annual fee of $21,182 beginning after the current fiscal allocation. "What is owed is $128,351.76," Broen said, and she described discussions in which the public defenders office signaled willingness to accept a smaller past-due amount and include ongoing coverage in a renewed agreement.
Broen told commissioners she had not yet received the written interlocal agreement from the regional office and recommended the board defer any formal approval until staff can review the document and confirm the precise terms and annual rate. She said one financing option would use $89,628 from current funds this year and budget $21,182 in next year's budget to cover obligations through 2027 if the renewal is approved.
The chair and other members agreed not to take action at the meeting. No motion or vote on the interlocal agreement occurred; Broen said she expected to receive the agreement "any day now" and would provide it for review before the board considers approval.
The discussion focused on settling past-due attorney fees, the proposed discounted payment, the duration of the renewed contract and the budgetary trade-offs of committing to coverage through 2027. Commissioners asked to see the written agreement and exact annual rates before making a commitment.
