Conferees consider boosting Cass County courtroom grant, prefer routing funds through courthouse improvement fund
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Summary
Cass County requested the state increase its grant for a courtroom build from $100,000 to $400,000 (with a local match) to help fund a $1.2 million courtroom project; committee members said they would prefer placing funds into the competitive Courthouse Improvement Fund rather than earmarking the money to a single county.
Representative Hansen told the conference committee on Senate Bill 2002 that Cass County is building a new courtroom to house judges added two years ago and requested an increase in the state grant from $100,000 (the Senate amount) to $400,000 with a match requirement; the county’s total project cost is about $1.2 million.
Chairman Thomas said the committee should consider appropriating additional dollars into the Courthouse Improvement Fund (CIF) rather than earmarking a larger direct grant to Cass County, because the CIF is a competitive program that serves all district courts and would avoid setting a precedent of one-off grants. Alex, a staff member, clarified the mechanics: if funds come from the general fund, the legislature would appropriate and transfer to the Courthouse Improvement Fund; if funds already sit in CIF, it could be a transfer.
Hansen described the Cass County request and asked the committee to consider a $400,000 state contribution with a 2-to-1 local match; Thomas said he would be “much rather” to appropriate to the CIF and noted a prior conversation had considered a $1.5 million infusion to that fund. Members expressed agreement to discuss that option at the next meeting and asked staff to draft amendment language once a final dollar amount and source are decided.
No formal vote was taken; conferees said they would reconvene and review draft language that could either increase the specific Cass County grant or appropriate a sum to the Courthouse Improvement Fund for competitive allocation.