Commission discusses new litigation taxes, mediation fee and archives fee to shore up court services

Hamilton County commissioners spent a prolonged portion of the meeting debating a set of proposals to adjust litigation privilege taxes and establish an archives and records management fee intended to cover court operations and program costs.

Judge Alex McVay and county staff explained the proposals (resolutions 125‑15, 125‑16, 125‑17 and 125‑18) as user fees authorized by state statute that can be added to court costs to fund specific services. “Every case, whether it's criminal or civil, has court costs associated with them,” Judge McVay said, adding that these charges are allowed by the legislature and are routed to programs related to the courts. He described victim‑offender mediation and community mediation centers as programs…