The Indiana Public Defender Commission recently reimbursed the county 40 percent of its eligible costs for establishing and operating a public defender program.

The county received $158,106.71 from the state for the program, which began operations Jan. 1. The total includes $54,000 for the purchase of a building for the office at 213 E. Cross St. in Brownstown.

The state reimbursement funds were placed in the county general fund, according to a news release from the Jackson County Public Defender’s Office.

The claim for the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 was prepared and presented to the commission by Alan Marshall, the county’s chief public defender.

The reimbursement amount includes the cost of remodeling the building, installing a telephone system and computers, office furniture, supplies, salaries and benefits. The county used employees with the highway department to help with remodeling, which also saved money, Marshall said.