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County urges state to increase funding for circuit courts, citing translation and public-defender costs
Summary
The board adopted a resolution asking Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to provide adequate funding to support the circuit courts, noting mandated services and local backfills for translation and appointed attorneys.
Eau Claire County supervisors voted unanimously on April 2 to urge Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to provide increased funding for the state'mandated circuit courts and related services.
Supervisor Jenkins moved the resolution and Supervisor Beckfield seconded it. In committee briefing, supervisors were told that the county receives only partial state reimbursement for court-related costs and that translation and appointed public defenders have driven local spending above budget; combined courts and clerk-of-courts overages were described as running about $300,000 for the year.
"The courts, circuit courts are mandated by the state for us to provide them including Clerk of Courts office," the committee explanation said, adding that mandated services lack matched state funding and require county general-revenue backfill.
Supervisors noted that other Wisconsin counties share the same concern and that clerks and county associations are already working with the Wisconsin Counties Association on the issue. The resolution is framed as a request in the current biennial budget process to increase state support for circuit courts and associated local costs.
The board approved the resolution by a 27-0 vote and asked that the county communicate with legislators, including members of the Joint Finance Committee, to press for increased funds.
