The Waco Tribune reports, "County hopes state money will offset capital murder trial costs," by Stephanie Butts.
McLennan County’s 2013 budgeted contingency account dwindled to $170,000 on Tuesday after commissioners approved two transfers to pay for indigent defense and the feeding and care of prisoners at the Jack Harwell Detention Center.
But officials hope a state grant could alleviate some of the costs the county incurred from a death penalty trial that occurred earlier this year.
County Auditor Stan Chambers once again asked the commissioners court to be careful with the rest of the 2013 budget to ensure bills for overflow inmates and indigent defense can be paid for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
And:
Indigent defense also is eating up the remaining 2013 funds. The court transferred $150,000 to pay for September’s indigent defense bills, but Chambers said he doesn’t think it’s going to cover the month’s expenses.
To bridge the gap, Dustin Chapman, an attorney and the county’s legal/grant services specialist, said the county plans to apply for a state grant that could offset some of the costs from the Albert Leslie Love Jr. murder trial. Love’s trial was moved to
Williamson County and held in June and July. The jury sentenced him to death.
Chapman said costs from the trial haven’t been finalized, but the county already has received $172,044 in bills.
Josh Havens, spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry’s office, said the governor’s office provides $1.17 million under the County Essential Service Grants program to reimburse counties for government services, including law enforcement, jail and court costs, and extraordinary costs for investigation and prosecution of capital murder cases.
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