COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Faced with a November 20th deadline from the Michigan Indigent Defense Council, Branch County Commissioners voted 4-1 during their work session on Thursday to bring forward to next week’s regular meeting an Indigent Defense Compliance Plan for the county.
County Administrator Bud Norman gave Commissioner an overview of the plan and the costs involved.
He said part of the annex would be renovated to accommodate a public defender and a deputy defender.
Chris Denney from the MIDC said the state is required to continually fund the program due to a lawsuit but he added state lawmakers could change that.
Commissioner Terri Norris points out the plan will not cost the county any additional money when it comes to indigent defense.
The cost of the total system is estimated to be about $693,600. The annual local share would be over $151,000.
