County braces for public defender cuts

From the Alexandria Echo Press (MN):

Minnesota law clearly guarantees parents in child protection cases the right to an attorney.

The issue becomes muddied, however, when trying to sort out whose job it is to provide that service.

Now, as it faces a $3.8 million shortfall due to state budget cuts, the Minnesota Board of Public Defense says it can no longer afford to provide any “non-mandated services,” including representing parents.

On Tuesday, the state board discontinued its role in child protection cases, passing the costs onto Minnesota counties at a time when they say they’re already stretched thin.

The timing couldn’t be worse, said Douglas County Auditor/Treasurer Tom Reddick, with the state also limiting how much counties can raise property taxes over the next few years.

“That’s the really sinful part of this thing,” he said. “If [the cost of representing parents] falls under the levy limit [of 3.9 percent] – if you squeeze the balloon over here, then it pops over there.”

Covering parents’ legal fees for the remainder of the year could cost the county as much as $55,000, and three times as much should the county have to pick up the tab in 2009, said Rhonda Bot, 7th District court administrator for Douglas and Morrison counties.

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