GREENVILLE—The Darke County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss SNAP benefits and indigent representation. Commissioners Matt Aultman, Marshall Combs and Larry Holmes were all present.
The board approved an Agreement for 2023 indigent representation.
The terms the agreement will be through Dec. 31, 2023.
The agreement states that the Indigent Legal Assist. Fund (ILAF) will provide indigent representation in all criminal cases within the Darke County courts where there is a right to court appointed counsel.
The county will appropriate and pay $490,158.90 ILAF for services provided under this contract. It will be paid in equal monthly installments of $35,365 before the Wednesday of the first full week of each month.
In the agreement, $65,778.90 will be subjugated back to the county commissioners, and allocated to the common pleas – general division for the specific purpose of compensating attorneys, other than ILAF members for appointment to cases involving indigent defendants, including but not limited to cases where there is a conflict of interest with all ILAF members or appellate work not otherwise provided herein.
Karla Allen, Darke County Job and Family Services Director, updated the board on SNAP Benefits.
SNAP Benefit recipients will see a change in their monthly allotments.
There was a temporary increase in benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, recipients received both their normal allotment and an emergency allotment.
Starting in March, recipients will only receive their normal allotment. Recipients will receive notifications of the change via mail, or text message if they signed up for those alerts.
Their remaining balance will roll over. The change was made on a federal level.
Allen added that should recipients need extra assistance, there will be Shared Harvest Food Distributions at Radiant Lifehouse on Feb. 22, and March 22.
Darke County Citizens can also utilize the jobs center at the Darke County Jobs and Family Services building to find employment.
The Darke County Board of Commissioners hold regular session every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at 520 South Broadway, Greenville, Ohio 45331. For more information contact the commissioner’s office at 937-547-7370.
