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Minimal savings from ousting attorneyTue, 07/24/2007 - 4:34pm
By: John Thompson
A study by interim Fayette County Administrator Jack Krakeel conducted in June reveals that the county will probably see only small savings by hiring an in-house attorney. On July 12, the Fayette County Commission voted 4-1 to proceed with hiring an in-house attorney to replace Bill McNally, who had served as the county’s counsel for 28 years. Commissioners Eric Maxwell and Herb Frady suggested the county could save hundreds of thousands of dollars by going to a staff attorney. But in the county’s study, obtained by The Citizen last week, the numbers don’t seem to back up that assumption. In conducting the study, Krakeel surveyed other counties and cities, along with looking at the county’s legal costs over the last four years. In looking at other governments’ costs, Krakeel said the totals ranged from a low of $85,000 per year in Troup to $551,575 in Henry County. Henry County spent $466,575 for a staff attorney and $85,000 on outsourced attorney fees. Neighboring Coweta County spent $327,000 for its outsourced firm. The hourly rates ranged from $95 an hour in Coweta to up to $200 an hour in Douglas and Cherokee counties. In analyzing Fayette’s legal expenses, Krakeel revealed figures that showed the county spent $402,971 in 2004, $501,431 in 2005, $621,083 in 2006 and $302,604 in 2007. Krakeel explained that 2007’s figure was due to the resolution of litigation and the internal changes in the county to using legal services. After surveying the other governments, Krakeel determined it would cost approximately $289,000 a year for a staff attorney that maintains an office in the county complex. “Based upon the board’s direction to analyze the cost of in-house legal services versus an outside firm, it is the conclusion that the cost of establishing an in-house legal capability is comparable to the current cost of contracted legal staff,” Krakeel wrote. Krakeel also explained that there were other factors to consider in making the decision. “This would include the exploration of other alternatives to reduce overall legal expenditures such as reduce the number of billable hours of legal service through appropriate internal controls and established policy; renegotiate current contract rates and establish a formal cyclical process for the acquisition of legal services.” Krakeel concluded his report by saying an administrative policy could be established to achieve additional savings in billable hours. login to post comments
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