Monday, March 4, 2002
Page 3
Judicial Council Approves Priorities For $2.5 Billion Court Budget
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Judicial Council on Friday approved a list of priorities in a $2.5 billion state trial court budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year, with mandatory negotiated salary increases for court staff and bailiffs topping the list.
Other mandatory budget items include pay equity adjustments for court staff due to unification, increased charges by counties for facilities, maintenance and other costs, increased operating expenses for anticipated hikes in postal rates, and higher costs for court interpreters due to an increasing workload.
Trial courts now must submit their own budget requests based on the priority list. Proposals are due to the Judicial Council by June 1, and the council is to act on them and finalize a budget package at its August meeting.
The package is to be submitted to the governor in September.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company