County authorizes general-fund replenishment for positions previously paid from asset forfeiture

County Attorney Wilborn explained that during the prior budget year asset-forfeiture funds were used to pay for attorney and support positions while vacancies existed in the general-fund allotments. He asked the court to reimburse those asset-forfeiture expenditures from the general fund so the forfeiture fund could be preserved for its intended uses. "What we're asking for is to be able to replace or replenish the asset forfeiture funds from the general fund," Wilborn said, explaining that roughly $120,000 of asset-forfeiture money had been used for staff during the year and that replenishing would allow continued commitments for the next three budget years.

The court heard that the alternative would accelerate general-fund charges for those positions and that the proposed approach would be a partnership between the county attorney's office and the court to extend purchasing power and staffing coverage. A motion to authorize use of available general-fund budget resulting from vacant assistant county attorney positions to fund the family justice prosecutor position (and to reimburse the state forfeiture fund for earlier expenditures) was moved, seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.

Court members noted the arrangement was somewhat unorthodox but accepted it because it maintains services while balancing tight budget years.