BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Louisiana’s statewide public defender plans to ask the Legislature for stable funding after a state audit revealed 12 district offices spent more than their revenue.

The State Legislative Auditor released the audit Monday morning, showing what the state calls “deficit spending” across multiple public defender offices. The state public defender oversees 42 district offices statewide.

Remy Starnes, Louisiana’s statewide public defender, said the audit does not show the full picture of challenges facing the system.

“The legislative audit does a fine report, but our system of funding in our public defender system is unique,” Starnes said.

Starnes said the public defender’s office receives money through three funding mechanisms: conviction and user fees imposed by

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