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Judges warn of rising case volumes, aging servers and reporter shortages in budget presentation
Summary
Judges and court staff told commissioners their 2026 request reflects modest increases for raises but growing operational pressure from rising civil and foreclosure caseloads, new Supreme Court mandates, aging servers and a statewide court-reporter shortage that could push investment toward electronic transcription and video systems.
Judges from the common pleas general division and court administrators told the Berks County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 6 that their budget request for 2026 shows only a modest overall increase once planned raises are included, but that operational pressures are mounting.
The court—s presentation said its overall budget increase will be about 1.7% after raises, in part because a new hire, Shannon Wendling (started the day of the meeting), replaces a departing employee and begins at a lower rate; the court expects lower vacation-payout costs this year. The judges said they moved $65,000 from special projects into the general fund and cautioned that…
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