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Court presents status‑quo budget; drug court marks ninth year with officials citing outcomes
Summary
The city court presented a status‑quo budget with capital attention to building repairs and cybersecurity; officials described the drug court’s ninth year, its positive outcomes and proposals for an amnesty outreach program to increase compliance with fines and warrants.
St. Clair Shores — Judge Hendricks and court staff described a largely status‑quo 2025–26 budget for the municipal court at the April 28 budget hearing, noting building repairs, cybersecurity upgrades and grant‑funding pursuits for equipment replacements.
Judge Hendricks said the court included capital outlay for aging systems — from HVAC and a hot‑water tank near the server room to firewall and email security work — and that the court was seeking reimbursement grants through MMRMA for technology and security upgrades. “We did include some, expenditures for those types of items and also spoke with MMRMA as it relates to possibly receiving grants for those items,” Hendricks said; he added that if the grants are not received the expenses would be charged to the court building fund.
The court described nine full years of its drug‑court program and told council it has observed measurable participant progress, including graduations and improved family outcomes. Judge Hendricks said the court is exploring options to increase collections and compliance with outstanding judgments, including a limited “amnesty” program aimed at waiving late fees or encouraging people with outstanding warrants to return to court to resolve cases without immediate arrest if they show a willingness to comply. “When I say amnesty…if you walk in my court and you try, you're not going to jail,” Hendricks said, describing a program meant to incentivize compliance rather than erase underlying judgments.
Court staff also noted a new accountant practice change: bond forfeiture and collection fees are being budgeted in the court’s revenue lines after auditors recommended averaging the account to reflect its predictable receipts under new GASB guidance.
Councilmembers asked for follow‑up on metrics — such as recidivism and program outcomes for drug court — and the court said it will provide historical data and consider veterans‑court coordination where volume warrants it. No formal vote was taken on the court budget at the hearing; staff will return with final numbers and any grant awards.
