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Cass County to apply for $200,000 in state court facility funds; $100,000 tech award already used
Summary
County staff said they were closing out two 2025 courthouse grants and intend to apply for a separate $200,000 court facility allocation in 2026 that legislative testimony suggests is targeted to districts with recent added judges; staff plan to seek a legislative council memorandum and outreach to a state senator for clarification.
Cass County staff told the building committee they were closing out two 2025 court facility grants used to outfit Courtroom 200 and that they plan to pursue a 2026 funding opportunity that could include a $200,000 allocation for districts with facility needs.
"We've utilized them as part of the work in building out Courtroom 200," Speaker 5 said of the two 2025 grants. He said the legislature also included $100,000 "for the state's share of expenses on technology in the courtroom," which has already been implemented as part of the project.
Staff described a second $200,000 referenced in the court budget and legislative testimony and said the money appeared targeted by legislative intent to districts that have added judges recently. "We added two judges in 2023," Speaker 5 said, arguing that Cass County fits the scope and should apply. "What's the worst they can tell us?" he said.
The committee discussed obtaining a legislative council memorandum to document the funding's permissible uses before applying. Speaker 1 asked a member of the judicial-grant review committee to gather an official legislative council memorandum and suggested contacting Senator Sorvaugh to request assistance or formal guidance.
No formal application decision was recorded in the committee; staff said they would prepare an application and follow up with the judicial grant committee and legislative contacts.
