BAY CITY — Bay County officials are now contracting out for a
public defender position. The county sought bids to have contractors provide
legal services for misdemeanor cases so that staff attorneys can focus more on
felonies, according to Bay County corporate counsel Marty Fitzhugh. The county
employs two departments of public defenders and contracted out additional work
to in-county attorneys.
The bidding was started as a way to restructure and save money
after an employee left the county. The county will pay $1,300 per month for the
service.
The county sought bids to offer defense services to those
accused of a criminal misdemeanors who cannot afford an attorney. It received
nine bids in response, but only seven met bid point thresholds, according to The Bay City Times.
Reference: The Bay City Times, "Officials looking at
public defender bids in attempt to find savings," Sept. 11, 2007
