Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Magistrate Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission reviews magistrate phone reimbursements; staff told to align practice with state code
Summary
The commission reviewed magistrate telephone reimbursements after discovering the county had been paying both cell and landline costs in some cases; staff were directed to confirm available magistrate funds and to implement the state code’s limit of reimbursement for one line (cell or landline), with a cell cap referenced in law.
Morgan County commissioners discussed the county practice of reimbursing magistrates for telephone expenses and directed staff to align county practice with state code.
What the meeting covered: County staff and commissioners reviewed the statutory language that allows magistrates to choose reimbursement for either a landline or a cellular telephone but not both. The transcript referenced a state code amendment from February 2019 that includes a $29.99 monthly cap for cellular reimbursements; the meeting also noted a customary landline figure of roughly $54 per month used in local practice, although the county could not identify where that specific landline cap originated.
Why it matters: County officials found they were sometimes paying both a courthouse landline and reimbursing magistrates’ personal phones, creating unclear accounting and possible overpayment relative to state rules. Commissioners instructed staff to confirm available magistrate fund balances and to ask individual magistrates which option they prefer (landline or cell) so the county can follow the code and document reimbursements correctly.
Next steps and guidance: Staff was asked to confirm whether magistrate work fund balances (magistrate court fund) can be used to absorb reimbursements and how year‑end carryover of those funds is handled. The county will also ensure reimbursement amounts reflect the state‑specified cap for cell reimbursements unless the county adopts a different legally authorized arrangement after confirming guidance from state authorities.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with a clean summary of the applicable code section, current reimbursements being paid, fund balances, and a plan to bring county practice into compliance.
