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Appropriations panel agrees to revised Judiciary Branch budget changes
Summary
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division agreed by consensus to Senator Thomas's recommended adjustments to the Judiciary Branch (02/2002) budget, shifting several personnel and subscription funding items and adding funds for library subscriptions, credit card processing, interpreters and courtroom audio/video work.
Chairman Sorvaugh called the Education and Environment Division to order and, after a presentation by Senator Thomas, the committee by consensus agreed to a set of adjustments to the Judiciary Branch budget (02/2002).
Senator Thomas, presenting an updated long sheet, proposed removing proposed juvenile-court FTE additions and several other positions while adding funds for subscriptions and operating increases that the judiciary said were essential.
The committee adopted the changes by consensus. Key adjustments Senator Thomas described included: not funding a proposed half-time juvenile-court position (savings of $67,758), removing an added district court staff attorney position, keeping a supreme court administrative assistant as a half-time position (saving $65,061 compared with a full-time increase), adding $73,008.82 for law library reference materials, allocating $200,000 toward increased credit card processing fees, allocating $200,000 for operating costs, $60,000 for interpreter services, and $189,004.28 for county clerk of court contract increases tied to previously signed county contracts. He also recommended reducing an earlier request and instead allocating $800,000 for phased courtroom audio/video system work and $100,000 for new courtroom equipment in Cass County (including $25,000 for a sound room).
Senator Thomas said some salary increases for judges were built into the numbers the committee had before it: "9 for the chief, 8 and a half for supremes, and then 7 for judicial or district." A committee member clarified the pay increase would not be added on top of other 3-and-3 adjustments.
Committee staff (Alex) was asked to draft the written amendments reflecting the changes; the committee asked for those amendments to be available for review Thursday and for the budget to proceed to full committee on Friday.
The chairman closed the item, saying the committee's work on 02/2002 was finished for now and the group would proceed to other items on the agenda.
Ending: The committee approved the recommended Judiciary Branch adjustments by consensus and directed staff to draft formal amendments for committee review later in the week.
