To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Nathaniel C. Perry, III, Chief Public Defender
title
RE: Approval of a grant award from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, in the amount of $9,453,835.37 to support the operations of the Genesee County Office of the Public Defender for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Accept the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) grant award and authorize the Board Chair to sign the grant agreement via EGrAMS.
BACKGROUND:
Genesee County, through the Office of the Public Defender, is required to submit an annual plan for compliance with the approved MIDC standards for indigent defense, along with a cost analysis, by a statutory deadline. That deadline this year was April 25, 2025.
The MIDC approved the grant request on September 12, 2025. The contract has now been provided to Genesee County for final acceptance and signature.
DISCUSSION:
The local share contribution was included in the FY26 Genesee County budget, within fund 2921-2830.00. The local share amount is determined by the MIDC enabling statute. No additional appropriation is required.
Budget: $1,342,132.90 local share contribution (2921-283.00-699.003)
$9,453,835.37 state grant contribution (2921-283.00-558.000)
Total Authorized
Budget: $10,795,968.27
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Budget amendments will need to be recorded to make the necessary line item adjustments.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This grant award fully provides for the Office of the Public Defender to carry out its mandate and comply with the MIDC standards, ensuring long term financial stability. The Office of the Public Defender is responsible for providing constitutionally guaranteed, quality legal representation to all adults charged with crimes in Genesee County who cannot afford an attorney, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our daily operations. This grant award will further ensure equity and fairness for all of those charged with crimes that are represented by our Office.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Chief Public Defender to authorize accepting the FY26 Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) grant award from the State of Michigan to fund the Office of the Public Defender in the amount of $9,453,835.37, for the period commencing October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the November 5, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendments, and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County.