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Budget committee flags high monthly payments to conflict defender contractor
Summary
During review of audited claims, the Budget & Finance Committee noted one conflict defender had 40 entries in the month totaling $31,877.30 and is on pace for more than $200,000 this year; county officials said indigent defense costs could exceed $1 million this year.
The Budget & Finance Committee approved the abstract of audited claims and discussed unusually high monthly billings from a conflict defender contractor.
A committee member said one contractor recorded 40 entries in the month totaling $31,877.30 and is on track to be paid more than $200,000 this year as a conflict defender. Committee members noted the county is likely to spend upward of $1 million on indigent defense services this year and raised the figure as an item of concern during the audited-claims review.
No formal motion was introduced to alter payments during the meeting; the committee approved the abstract of audited claims and forwarded it to the full board. Committee members signaled this is an area for continued oversight given the scale of projected expenditures.
