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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Ind. Courts - Still more on: Judicial mandate mentioned in Carroll County
The confrontaion continues between the Carroll County Council and the Carroll County judiciary, as is apparent in reveiwing these quotes today from a story by Debbie Lowe in the Carroll County Comet:
Department heads were invited to appear and address budget reduction questions and concerns. Although many departments were represented, only a few spoke, including Carroll Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Smith and Circuit Court Judge Donald Currie.Smith explained, with a comparison chart visual aid, how his court could not continue to function with the latest proposed budget reductions. He said superior court would lose a court reporter.
"The council is engaged in mystical thinking," he said as he explained the workload of court staff.
"We aren't dreaming this up," council member Steve Ashby said. "We are struggling as you are. If we don't cut it to $5 million, we're dead in the water."
Council member Rob Baker confronted Smith about the allegation that joint courts would be losing $50,000. He said the salaries for probation office staff would be paid out of user fees instead of from the general fund.
"You still have the money," he said. "It's just been moved."
"I'm amazed at the offices who have tried to work with us," Baker continued. "We're doing this because we have to."
Currie reminded council members the courts have tried to work in conjunction with them as he described what hardships the current round of budget decreases would cause circuit court. He advised his court employs three staff, as it has since 1980.
"I cannot operate the court with two employees," he said. "You're asking me to operate at a level that no other court in the state operates at."
Currie reviewed 2006 cases handled by circuit court, case-type by case-type. After each example, he paused and asked council members if they were willing to forego addressing that type of case in his court.
"Oh come on," Baker exclaimed. "You guys are grand-standing pretty good."
"What services are you asking us to cut?" Cripe asked.
"I'm not asking you to cut any services," Currie retorted before sitting down.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 16, 2008 12:59 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts