Government
Austin, Travis County leaders back pretrial legal support A program providing legal representation fol- lowing arrest in Travis County is poised to expand. The big picture Local leaders and advocates aim to offer counsel at first appearance, or CAFA, post-arrest, regard- less of ability to pay for a lawyer. Travis County commissioners are considering a fiscal year 2024-25 budget that could reserve millions of dollars for expanded CAFA services. At City Hall, council approved a FY 2024-25 spending plan with money reserved for an ongoing county partnership. While CAFA has yet to be fully implemented, the lack of full-time legal services led one arrestee to sue the county this spring over its “two-tiered” magistration system that he, and others, have said
County employees get 5% raise in pay Travis County leaders approved a 5% increase in pay for all county employees— including elected officials—Aug. 27. The details The minimum wage for county employees will now start at $21.84, starting in fiscal year 2024-25 in October. “We won’t have this kind of money to give this kind of a pay raise on any predictable timetable in the future, and that is why I feel like it’s important to do it while we can,” commissioner Brigid Shea said. Pay increases are meant to keep pace with the cost of living and inflation in the Aus- tin-area, furthering internal efforts to recruit and retain experienced staff, commissioners said. The county is expected to spend over $30 million on employee pay in FY 2024-25.
CAFA ramps up* Local officials hope to expand CAFA services. After trial runs, daily shifts will begin in October followed by full implementation next year. 30 magistration shifts with CAFA completed so far 14 county judge shifts 16 city magistrate shifts 834 people magistrated; prosecution declined charges in 6% of cases
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT *AS OF AUG. 27
results in disparate legal outcomes for those who can and can’t afford a lawyer. What’s next Local CAFA offerings remained in a trial state as of this summer. New funding could support dozens of staff positions and more CAFA shifts. Travis County Budget Director Travis Gatlin called the current proposal “the single biggest and fastest undertaking” on the issue in more than two decades.
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