Commission approves 2026 41B District Court budget; judges cite caseload-driven revenue shortfall

The Mount Clemens City Commission approved the 2026 budget for the consolidated 41B District Court, which serves Mount Clemens, Clinton Township and Harrison Township.

City staff explained the court functions under a written funding agreement among the three communities and that the court operates on a calendar year. Judge Sebastian Lucido, joined by Judge Jake Femeninio and finance director Dale Kaye, presented the court’s proposed budget and said the court expects a 2026 shortfall of about $795,000, largely attributable to debt service on the consolidated court building and a sustained reduction in case-related revenue since the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucido told commissioners, “Our revenue is 100% determined by the cases that come in front of us,” noting declines in tickets and misdemeanors and staffing reductions used to manage costs.

Court staff said the city's portion of the 2026 shortfall is $111,300 (compared with $104,006.50 the prior year) and that last year the city had allocated $114,000 in its fiscal year budget for the anticipated payment. Commissioners asked whether the change in revenue reflected a change in caseload volume or mix; Lucido said the court cannot directly control police enforcement and that the court’s revenue depends on the volume and type of cases brought forward.

The commission approved the proposed court budget on roll-call vote. Next steps: the funding communities will each adopt the budgeted contribution per the intergovernmental funding agreement and staff will monitor caseload trends and staffing needs.