Public defender asks for FY27 budget approval amid concern about pay‑range increases

Jason, representing the public defender’s office, asked the court to approve the FY27 budget required for Timely Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) processes and inter‑county agreements. He said the packet shows about a $30,000 increase over last year but attributed much of that to pay‑range adjustments, mileage, magistrations and an anticipated grant offset from partnering counties and TIDC. "The budget that y'all approved for us last year versus this year's was $30,000 difference," Jason said, adding that last year his office declined a countywide COLA and that he had found external offsets previously.