Arkansas Code
Subchapter 3 - Funding
§ 16-87-302. Funding of public defenders

(a) The Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall be responsible for the payment of the following:
(1) The salaries of public defenders;
(2) The salaries of secretaries and other support staff of the public defender's office;
(3) The payment of the costs of certain expenses, as authorized by § 16-87-212.

(b) Each county or counties within a judicial district shall be responsible for the payment of the following:
(1)
(A) The cost of facilities, equipment, supplies, and other office expenses necessary to the effective and efficient operation of the public defender's office.
(B) Funding for these expenditures may be from:
(i) A county administration of justice fund;
(ii) A county's general fund;
(iii) A county's public defender fund;
(iv) A county's indigent defense fund;
(v) A county's public defender investigator fund; or
(vi) Any other fund authorized by law for that purpose.

(C) These expenditures shall comply with an itemized, line-item budget appropriated by the quorum court; and

(2) The compensation of additional personnel within the office of the public defender, when approved in advance by the quorum court.