Adams County committee backs resolution urging $70 million boost for circuit court support

The Adams County Public Safety and Judiciary Committee voted to forward a resolution to the County Board urging Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to increase state court support payments by $70 million.

The resolution, introduced by Adams County Clerk of Court Miranda Christiansen, says county governments now shoulder a substantially larger share of circuit court costs than the state. The committee recommended the resolution for adoption and directed that copies be sent to the governor and to Adams County’s state legislative delegation.

Christiansen told the committee she met with several state legislators and staff in Madison to explain the shortfall. “We’re shouldering 80% of that cost, and we’re getting about 20% of the support,” she said, describing the current 80/20 split the resolution cites. Christiansen said the request is a statewide, collaborative effort through the Wisconsin Clerk of Circuit Court Association and the Wisconsin Counties Association rather than an appeal based solely on Adams County’s needs.

The resolution text cited statewide figures: it states that, as of February 2023, the total cost of running circuit courts in Wisconsin was $237,000,000 and that counties now pay about $150,000,000 more than the state for unbalanced circuit court costs. The document asks that the state appropriate an additional $70,000,000 to county circuit court support payments in the next state budget.

Committee members asked how additional funds would be distributed. Christiansen said the court-support formula is calculated at the state level and that any increase would be allocated using the existing methodology, which considers items such as interpreter costs, guardian ad litem fees and other county-incurred court expenses. “Whatever percentage…they deem that appropriate is what our share of that would be,” she said. She added the county cannot determine Adams County’s specific share until the state applies the formula.

The committee recorded no roll-call count in the meeting transcript beyond a voice vote. Scott made the motion to accept the resolution and Jay seconded; the chair called for the ayes, and the motion advanced to the County Board.

Why it matters: The committee’s action signals formal support from Adams County for a statewide request to rebalance funding between counties and the state for circuit court operations. County officials said the county portion covers many nonjudicial costs — courthouse maintenance, security, clerks of court staffing, jury costs, translation services and other items not covered by state circuit court appropriations — and that those county expenses have risen faster than the state appropriation in recent years.

Next steps: The resolution will be placed on the County Board agenda for consideration and possible adoption.