Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Budget Hearing Work Session
This session marked Day 1 of the Budget Hearing Work Session, focused on departmental budget presentations. Presentations cover department goals, mission, values, personnel requests for 2026, and operating requests for 2026, along with updates to five-year capital improvement plans. The Public Defender's office presented its status, noting success in client rehabilitation through programs like Recap and Ladders, and highlighting the need for additional staff (two APD3 attorneys for Superior Court, one APD2 attorney for juvenile and SB440s cases, and a receptionist) to manage caseloads efficiently and improve office professionalism. The Public Defender also advocated for rebranding the office name to 'The Law Office of the Rockdale Circuit Public Defender' to elevate professional perception. Financial details noted an increase in operating expenses due to significant growth in building rent. The overall budget remains uncut, showing all requested figures. Future steps involve public hearings, budget reads, and adoption in December.