State Cuts Affect Attorney's Offices

Harsh economic times can be felt all across the country. State officers are also feeling the affects of state funding cuts.The 14th Judicial System is preparing for the aftermath of the cutbacks.The state attorney's office and the public defender's office are both preparing for major funding losses in the next year. They will both have to find a way to operate will considerably less funding.Steve Meadows, state attorney, said, "Because of the economic climate throughout the state, tax revenues are down. Like any family, you have to make tough decisions when income is down. It has been a significant reduction. Our budget as of July 1, 2007 to the new one on July 1, 2008 will be almost $800,000 less."Herman Laramore, public defender, said, "In essence in the last two years I've been cut $800,000, yet our caseloads continue to increase. It's to the point where my staff is doing in excess of two and a half times what the recommended caseloads for practicing attorneys are."Meadows knows the office will have to put in extra time and job loss is inevitable.$800,000 means there are going to be significant reduction in personnel. However, public safety will not be compromised. At the other end of the building the public defenders office is looking at what changes they can make in order to cope with the $350,000 loss for this year after losing $450,000 in funding last year."Right now we're trying to analyze and see how we're going to make it through the next physical year without some days off. Right now my payroll is approximately $20,000 a day, so that means that I'm $350,000 short. That means it would be approximately 17 days I could have to furlough my people without pay."Both offices want to provide the best service to the citizens of the 14th Judicial Circuit, but these cuts will force significant change in both offices.The funding cuts will take effect on July 1st of this year. The cuts are statewide; each state office faces the same percentage cut.

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