Officials Enter Plea for Trial Court Funds

Several top county officials traveled to Sacramento this week seeking legislative approval of a state bailout for the county’s trial courts, which might shut down in May if $19 million cannot be found.

Supervisor Don Saltarelli, Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier and several judges were among county leaders who testified before an Assembly subcommittee examining the issue. The panel later voted in favor of the proposal.

Saltarelli said the bill could arrive on Gov. Pete Wilson’s desk within a few weeks.

The county hopes the state will provide $9 million to $13 million in funding for the courts. The Board of Supervisors has allocated a total of $6 million in recent months to keep the courts operating.

The funding crisis has its roots in the decision by the state several years ago to reduce its contribution to court operations.

At first, the county was able to provide the money needed to fill the gap. But since its 1994 bankruptcy filing, the county had to reduce its allocation.

The courts need $19 million to get through the end of the fiscal year in June.