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Steuben committee approves $250,000 transfer to cover assigned-counsel bills
Summary
Steuben County’s Administration Committee authorized a $250,000 transfer from Undistributed Fringe to pay remaining 2025 assigned-counsel invoices, citing rising caseloads and new rate schedules; members asked staff to explore incentives to reduce travel costs for appointed attorneys.
The Steuben County Administration Committee voted Feb. 10 to appropriate $250,000 from the 2025 Undistributed Fringe line to cover outstanding assigned-counsel invoices.
County Manager Jack K. Wheeler told the committee that increased caseloads and recently adjusted rates are driving the expenditures and warned, "If this trend continues, we will need additional funds for 2026." The motion to authorize the appropriation was made by Legislator Scott J. Van Etten and seconded by Legislator K. Michael Hanna; the vote was 5-0.
Wheeler said staff will investigate the causes of the cost increase and report back. Chair William Thew suggested the county explore an incentive program for attorneys to accept assigned-counsel cases to reduce travel-time costs, an idea Wheeler said county staff would examine.
The committee treated the action as an emergency appropriation to close out 2025 obligations; the meeting minutes note a resolution is required to formalize the transfer.
