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Circuit Court seeks $235,000 general‑fund shift to stabilize probation services
Summary
Circuit Court leadership told the council that the adult‑probation supplemental fund is no longer sustainable and requested a $235,000 shift of premium and supplement costs to the county general fund to avoid a future emergency shortfall; the judge said the office cut $90,000 from its own lines and will return with a more detailed phase‑in plan.
Circuit Court leadership told the council the adult‑probation supplemental budget cannot sustain required salary minimums, rising insurance costs and reduced user‑fee revenue. Judge Ryan Hadfield said the court had already cut roughly $90,000 in discretionary and line‑item spending but recommended the county move certain staff supplements and the probation staff health‑insurance premiums—about $235,000 total—onto the general fund to stabilize operations.
Why it matters: The circuit judge said state mandates (minimum probation officer salaries) and higher health‑insurance costs have outpaced the revenue available from probation user fees and grant changes. Hadfield warned that without structural support the supplemental account could face an emergency shortfall in two to three years.
Details in the request - Cuts and efficiencies: Hadfield described office efficiencies (phone tree to reduce front‑office staffing, use of interns and part‑time employees) and said he removed a probation secretary position from the supplemental account and plans to request filling that vacancy in circuit court’s general‑fund budget instead. - The ask: Hadfield proposed shifting about $235,000 (staff supplements plus health insurance premiums) from the probation supplemental account to the general fund to buy time while the court pursues additional efficiencies and revenue.
Council reaction and next steps Councilors acknowledged the scale of the problem and discussed possible funding sources. The judge and staff said they will continue to seek efficiencies and return with further detail and options, including whether some funding could be drawn from riverboat or other county revenue lines.
Ending No appropriation was made at the hearing; the judge will follow up with more detailed numbers and options for the council to consider during the budget process.
