In a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant changes to juvenile prosecutorial services in Camden County following a notification from District Attorney (DA) Higgins. As of the end of September, Higgins' office will cease providing full-time prosecuting attorneys for juvenile court, a shift that has already occurred in several neighboring counties, including Glenn, Wayne, Appling, and Jeff Davis.

This change will necessitate Camden County hiring a part-time solicitor for juvenile court, which could incur additional costs. County attorney Ms. Fortier indicated that the hourly rate for this position would likely range between $100 and $200, depending on market conditions. The financial implications of this transition remain uncertain, with estimates suggesting a potential budget impact of between $30,000 and $60,000.

The meeting also addressed the financial relationship between Camden County and the DA's office. Currently, the county is owed approximately $58,000 by the DA's office, stemming from a billing error related to payroll processing. The DA has proposed a repayment plan to settle this debt over the next 11 months, which the commissioners agreed to.

Additionally, the DA's office has requested that Camden County take on payroll services for six additional employees, which could further complicate the county's financial obligations. This request comes amid ongoing financial challenges faced by the DA's office, which reportedly owes over $1 million to Glenn County for back payroll.

As the county navigates these changes, officials are tasked with determining the best course of action to ensure continued legal representation in juvenile court while managing the associated budgetary impacts. The board is expected to deliberate further on these issues in upcoming meetings.