Macomb County approves budget-neutral amendment for expert witnesses and extends juvenile-services contract

The county's public safety committee voted to send two administrative items to the full board: a $32,000 budget-neutral amendment to cover expert-witness costs in ongoing prosecutions, and a request to extend a current contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for juvenile-division services.

Chief of Special Prosecutions Mr. Bondo explained that the $32,000 amendment would be a transfer from a personnel line to the expert-witness line to cover forensic psychological services, sexual-assault nursing examiners (SANE), and at least one pathological expert. He identified one immediate expense — a $10,000 Miller hearing expert — and said the remainder would cover anticipated expert needs; investigators and appeals staff (Emil Siman, chief of appeals) were present to answer technical questions. Mr. Bondo described the request as budget-neutral because available savings from personnel vacancies will cover the transfer.

Separately, staff asked the committee to invoke a two-year extension to an existing three-year MDHHS contract that supplies funding for juvenile-division work. The chief said the prior contract (Oct. 1, 2023 onward) had generated approximately $569,000 in reimbursements through March of the current year and that extending the agreement would continue that revenue stream for juvenile services.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the Miller hearing funding, compliance with the Michigan Supreme Court rulings related to juvenile lifers, and the extent to which state appropriations affect defense-side funding streams. Staff said they would return with further budget details if additional hearings require more funding later in the year. The motions to forward both items to the full board passed 10-0.