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Judge warns Prescott City court backlog has 'wheels ... just about come off'; staff, fees and space proposed
Summary
City court told council filings surged from about 5,100 to 9,525 and could top 10,000 this year; the judge asked for more clerks, a court administrator, facility changes and new fees to fund improvements and operations.
City Court officials told the Prescott City Council on May 28 that a sustained rise in filings has produced significant processing backlogs and lengthening case‑resolution times, and they asked for staffing, facilities and fee changes to address the problem.
"We're not an old car that's not running well. We're one that the wheels have just about come off," the judge said, describing a jump in filings from 5,101 to 9,525 with projections above 10,000 this year. The backlog, the judge said, is driven by more incoming filings than terminations year‑over‑year, leaving a bulge of cases to clear.
Court staff told council they are often 60–90 days behind on administrative post‑hearing paperwork and that calendar capacity is constrained: "This morning, I'm setting cases out 7 to 8 weeks because there's simply no room in the calendar," the judge said. To reduce lags, the court requested additional staff (a court administrator and two new clerks included in the draft budget), an additional hearing room in a new courthouse, and upgraded operational support.
The court also proposed changing security staffing (initially contracting an armed guard in lieu of two full‑time bailiffs) and introducing targeted fees to help pay for capital and operations. The judge described a potential capital improvement fee written to avoid state surcharges and a court sustainability fee suggested at about $15 per case, modeled on practices in other Arizona jurisdictions.
Finance director Lars Johnson said the revised FY2027 budget captures three additional court positions and that the city is exploring using excess revenues to cover deferred maintenance elsewhere. Council members asked for ADA compliance in any buildout and discussed whether some capital items (cameras, courtroom tech) are already available in city inventory, which could reduce upfront costs.
Council did not take a final vote on the court package at the session but directed staff to include the revised court items in the tentative budget for June adoption and to continue refining costs, security plans, and fee language for future council review.
