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Q&A
Public defender funding allocation and usage restrictions
3:28:37
·
132 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan questions MOCJ about the allocation of $20 million for public defenders in the FY26 budget and the restrictions placed on its use. He expresses concern about limiting salary increases to 3% and asks why public defenders' hands are being tied in using the funding.
- The city allocated an additional $20 million for public defenders performing criminal trials and appeals work.
- MOCJ has limited how the funding may be used, including capping salary increases to 3%.
- MOCJ explains that the restrictions are to maintain parity across providers and manage the attorney pool across the city.
- The city has been clear that overall funding will remain the same, but there is some flexibility in giving raises.
- MOCJ continues to work with OMB to find a fair and equitable resolution to the funding challenges.
Justin Brannan
3:28:37
Okay.
3:28:41
This last from me.
3:28:42
So in the FY twenty six budget, the city allocated an additional $20,000,000 for public defenders performing criminal trials and appeals work.
3:28:52
The intent of the initiative is to support staffing in the criminal practice.
3:28:59
While this funding is sorely needed, MACH J has limited how it may be used.
3:29:06
Is there a reason why we're sort of tying public defenders hands by restricting the use of their funding?
3:29:14
Particularly because we're capping salary increases to 3%?
Deanna Logan
3:29:23
Much of the the way that we as a city manage the attorney pool that we have across the city is in giving everyone the ability to give raises at a certain in a certain range and to make sure that we continue to have parity across providers.
3:29:47
And as we look at each of the providers, as we look at the market as a whole, we will continue to review and see what makes the most sense in how those those that flexibility is given.
3:30:02
Again, we continue to talk to OMB.
3:30:04
We look across where everyone is and we will continue to work to what would be a fair and equitable resolution of this challenge.
Justin Brannan
3:30:14
Am I correct in that the city is limiting the city is basically the city is explicitly stating that the funding cannot be used to support salary increases above the city's pattern of 3%.
Deanna Logan
3:30:28
The city has been very clear that whatever the providers use their funding for, their overall funding is going to stay the same because that's where we are within the portfolio, but there has been flexibility in the ability to give raises.
Justin Brannan
3:30:46
Okay.
3:30:46
I'm gonna turn it over to chair Salam.
3:30:48
Thank you very much.