Supervisors Offer Plan to Fund Courts

Two county supervisors on Thursday released a funding plan for local courts aimed at averting a crisis that might affect court operations.

The plan would provide the courts with at least $4.2 million in additional funds this year, bringing their total allocation to $133 million. Another $4.3 million would also be available for the courts if they cannot cover salaries through the end of the fiscal year in June.

The total is significantly less than the $18.9 million the court originally said was needed to stay open through June. Judges last month reduced the amount to $13.9 million.

More than $8 million in court projects that judges wanted to complete this year will be pushed back to next year under the plan, which also permits the courts to hire more than 70 new employees over the next three years.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the plan Tuesday.

“I hope this is not dead on arrival and that it will be viewed with an open mind,” said Board Chairman William G. Steiner, who helped negotiate the pact along with Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson. “There were concessions on both sides.”

Two supervisors have already expressed doubts about allocating additional county funds to the courts. County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier’s office has questioned whether the courts need more money.