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Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Ind. Courts - Allen County to separate justice expenses from other county expenses
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports today:
Separating justice expenses from other county expenses will be one of Allen County’s top priorities for next year’s state legislative session.The County Council, commissioners and other officials Monday brainstormed ideas for what legislative issues to pursue next year. The group agreed that financing the justice system – courts, clerk, jails, sheriff – should be a high priority.
Commissioner Nelson Peters said he would like for a separate property-tax levy to be created just for the justice system. The levy would not increase taxes, but he said it would let taxpayers know how much of their property taxes goes toward those programs.
“It puts the onus of administering that program to where it belongs,” he said.
Commissioner Linda Bloom said a separate tax levy would make those areas more accountable for their spending instead of having them lumped into the general county budget. * * *
Expenses for law enforcement and judicial programs account for 70 percent of Allen County’s 2005 general fund budget. They cost more than $52.4 million. * * *
County officials also were quick to note that they did not believe the sheriff or judges were mismanaging money, but a separate levy would increase public scrutiny and accountability.
The group also discussed several items, including storing records electronically and publishing claims online instead of in newspapers.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 13, 2005 06:46 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts