Bonner County reviews court budgets; discusses bailiff training, drug-testing move and law-library costs

Bonner County commissioners heard a budget overview from First Judicial District staff on court operations on Oct. 11, during which administrators said the district court budget as presented is essentially budget‑neutral while the drug court’s separate budget projects a reduced net expenditure.

"When you look at both of these budgets, the bottom line is, however, that there is a decreased cost for spending in both budget items," said Lisa Cheesper, trial court administrator for the First Judicial District. She said the district court budget as presented shows a net decrease of $611 and the drug court budget a projected reduction of $3,052.

The presentation and subsequent discussion focused on several line items that drove proposed increases or decreases. Travel and training costs rose in the draft budget primarily for bailiff certification and instructor continuing education, and drug testing costs moved because drug court is changing testing locations. Cheesper said the change in drug testing location is the subject of a forthcoming memorandum of understanding with Tamarack.

Commissioner 1 pressed for more detail on the travel line, asking whether the county could provide…