Finances of Courts Set for Review

With a crisis that threatened to shut down the county’s courts this June apparently behind them, supervisors next week will discuss ways of restructuring the court system to better deal with tight budgets in the future.

The courts faced a deficit of more than $25 million this year, requiring a bailout that the state Assembly approved earlier this week. The bailout will provide the courts with $8.8 million in state funding and about $13 million in county money.

But county officials fear that the courts will face a similar shortfall this year and want to focus on ways the courts can cut costs and boost efficiency while still providing their constitutionally required services.

The county also wants to join with courts to develop a “Model Court System for the Twenty-First Century” that would employ an “alternative and potentially more cost-effective method of delivering judicial services to Orange County residents in the coming years,” according to a report.

In the past, county and judicial officials have sharply differed on whether the court system can significantly shrink its budget.

Also next week, the board will consider placing on the November ballot a measure that would limit supervisors to two consecutive four-year terms in office.

The item was proposed by Supervisor Marian Bergeson, who said the public has expressed support for term limits and should have the opportunity to vote on them.

Also Tuesday, the board is scheduled to select an engineering firm to prepare a master development plan for the Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.