Supervisors OK $2 Million in Additional Court Funds

The Board of Supervisors approved a plan Tuesday that provides courts with as much as $2 million in additional funds, far less than the $13 million local judges insist is needed to cover costs through June 30.

The action comes a week after Orange County’s top judges filed a court action demanding that the supervisors provide additional funding.

The civil complaint seeks $13.3 million to cover court operations through June 30, plus another $10 million for technology upgrades, capital projects and 56 new positions that would be filled next year.

The case is before the assistant presiding judge of Los Angeles Superior Court.

State law requires counties to provide the courts with “suitable” and “sufficient” facilities and personnel to operate, and the looming court battle will center on what constitutes sufficient funding.

Supervisors said Tuesday that the $2 million set aside for the judiciary will allow the courts to continue normal operations through the end of June.

“I think this is a good-faith effort,” said Board Chairman William G. Steiner, who proposed the plan along with Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson. “It might not be what the courts expected . . . but it gets close to what they need.”

Steiner and Wilson’s plan also calls for an operational audit of the courts and gives the auditor-controller’s office authority to move money between various court funds to allow each courthouse to cover payroll.

County officials said the courts could sustain themselves longer by taking money out of their supplies and equipment budgets and placing them in their salary budgets.

Court officials have criticized the plan, saying it doesn’t go far enough in meeting their financial needs.

Attorneys for the judges said some elements of the funding plan, such as transferring money between court accounts, violates state government codes.

The plan also provides about $600,000 for a new computerized jury management system.