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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. This came after concerns about County GOP spending were raised at a press conference hosted by the St. Louis County Democrats. Joseph in October.
“As of October 11 of this year, the Commissioner’s Office has incurred over $900,000 in legal fees. That’s 900-thousand dollars of my money and your money,” said Michael McManus, a resident of St. Louis. Joseph County, also a lawyer.
16 News Now Investigates is seriously investigating this claim, digging into public records to find out how much money is being spent. We have known since October 11, 2022, that St. Joseph County $1,245,139.95 in legal fees. They spent over half a million and over $437,004.09 in legal fees in all of 2021.
One reason for the increase is that the rates for attorneys have increased from $150 an hour in 2021 to $250 an hour this year. However, if last year’s legal expenses are billed at this year’s rate, they are about $728,000, not more than a million.
The largest portion of the legal expenses incurred by the council this year are legal fees related to the amendments. As we have previously reported, the largest number of legislative bills for the redistricting process in St. Joseph County has raised over $500,000. This happened after County Council members filed a lawsuit against the maps approved by the County Commissioners, but the issue was later resolved by drawing a revised map.
Another reason for the higher legal costs this year is the legal review of the programs proposed by the federal government. County Attorney Michael Misch says these programs “require more legal attention to ensure county compliance with federal mandates” and “ensure proper administration of the programs.” project”.
This legislative focus was given to the Emergency Rent Assistance program, which helped some county residents pay their rent. It also provided nearly $52 million in American Rescue Plan funding, which the county attorney said was used for nonprofit community, road and bridge improvements, and could be use for a new tablet in Granger.
Other legislative expenses include legal aid to establish a new law enforcement agency after the County Council and Selectmen worked together to establish the program earlier this year.
The county attorney also told 16 Investigates that “60 or more active prosecution cases are being defended by the county”. Other legal fees are charged with day-to-day administrative operations in various departments, such as contract reviews, personnel matters, compliance with policies and procedures, and transactions. buy land.
While this explains the current congressional spending in 2022, the year isn’t over yet, and a bigger legislative battle is looming. A lawsuit brought by the state and the congress of the Republican Party for the conduct of secret elections in St. Joseph County, which means more legal fees to pay.
In an engagement letter dated October 8, the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP says they have been “engaged to provide legal services to the County in relation to the threat litigation arising out of and related to the Elections 2022 and vote processing”. The rates listed in the letter are $450 per hour for associate rates and $335 per hour for associate rates.
Taxpayers are starting to see an increase in legal expenses, and at the St. Joseph County Commissioners meeting on Oct. 18, some expressed concern about that . But Board President Carl Baxmeyer said that’s not the focus of the St. Joseph County Commissioners at this time.
“All this talk about the waste of taxpayers’ money and the abuse of power only diverts attention from what is driving this whole thing, and there should be a double standard of governance. invalid elections,” he told 16 News Now on October 18.
We reached out to Board President Baxmeyer several times to hear his thoughts on council spending, but have not heard back.
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