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Board approves $12,040 increase to public-defender budget to address pay parity
Summary
The Meriwether County Board approved a $12,040 increase to the Kawita Circuit Public Defender's 2026-27 budget request to address pay parity and staff pay increases, including a $5,000 raise for a local attorney and a 3% COLA for an administrative assistant.
Rick Samper, the Kawita Circuit public defender, told commissioners the legislature raised assistant district-attorney pay scales this year and a pay-parity law left public-defender offices needing additional local funding for county-funded positions. Samper asked for a $12,040 increase for 2026-27 to cover a $5,000 raise for a local public defender and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for a local administrative assistant; he noted the positions are held by county residents and primarily serve Meriwether County clients.
A commissioner moved to approve the 2026-27 state agency budget request as presented and to allow the chair and vice chair to sign; the motion was seconded and approved.
The budget increase is intended to help retain staff and align pay with nearby jurisdictions. Samper offered to meet with commissioners to present more detail about public-defender operations and funding needs.
Next steps: administration will sign the authorization and process the budget request as approved by the board.
