Washington County committee backs resolution seeking increased state court funding

Washington County’s public safety committee voted to approve a resolution supporting a state funding request for the circuit court system, a county presenter said at the March meeting.

A county staff member told the committee that counties fund most local circuit court operations and that the request to the state totals $70,000,000. The presenter said the governor’s budget currently includes $24,000,000 for next year and proposes $70,000,000 for the following year.

"At least 80% of the funding comes through the court or comes through the county levies and their own general fund," the county staff member said, describing the local burden for court operations.

The presenter said Washington County and the Clerk of Courts Association have lobbied through the Wisconsin County Association and that the money is intended to be distributed via the state court appropriations fund, with the state court director’s office administering allocations. The presenter added that the funds might be distributed on a similar proportional basis to the current county/state split and that the money would aim to cover costs such as guardian ad litem expenses.

A motion to approve the resolution and to send it on was made and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee-recorded discussion noted the county executive and board members will convey the request to legislators and that the joint finance committee will consider the matter at a public meeting on April 4.

No formal vote tally or names were recorded in the meeting transcript; the committee recorded the motion as carried.