More funding for court-appointed attorneys was finalized by the Pulaski County Council Monday. Council members approved a $30,000 additional appropriation for Superior Court pauper counsel. It was requested by Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher back in August.
With Monday’s approval, the council has now agreed to let Superior Court spend $70,000 beyond what was initially budgeted on pauper counsel. Superior Court is currently in the process of switching from hourly attorneys to contract public defenders, which Judge Kocher says will save the county money in the long run.
Other additional appropriations finalized Monday include $6,700 to allow the Assessor’s Office to hire a commercial appraiser for a potential reassessment appeal, just under $3,600 for the Maintenance Department’s recent improvements at the West Annex, and almost $1,000 out of the Sheriff’s Department’s Misdemeanant Fund.
Council members also agreed to advertise a request to make $7,000 available to cover the cost of the Prosecutor’s Office’s interns, with money from the Diversion Fund. That additional appropriation will be up for final approval in a future meeting.
