Council Members Ask About Downsizing City Court, But Request is For 4.5% Budget Rise

  • Tuesday, May 29, 2018

City Council members had questions about possibly downsizing City Court, but the request from City Court Clerk Ron Swafford is for a 4.5 percent budget increase.

Mr. Swafford said the increase of $61,000 mainly relates to IT maintenance costs and employee benefits.

Daisy Madison, city finance director, said City Court still brings in more than it costs, though revenue has been going down.

Councilman Anthony Byrd noted that City Court no longer has parking cases, and he said the city had installed an Administrative Hearing Officer that would take some of the court's cases. He also said use of E ticketing could cut down on court personnel.

Mr. Swafford said no one had contacted him about the AHO. He said the environmental docket heard by Judge Sherry Paty "is still huge."

The clerk said there are 13 employees along with one part-time worker. He said one employee prepares the 8, 9 and 10 a.m. dockets for Judge Paty, while another sets the 3, 4 and 5 p.m. docket for Judge Russell Bean. He said court is always over by 7 p.m.

Officials said former City Judge Walter Williams has heard just three AHO dockets with a handful of cases. Those are referred by city departments in cases where City Court's fines do not seem to be working, it was stated.

City Court is limited by a state Constitution to a $50 fine per day. The AHO can order much large penalties.

Councilwoman Carol Berz said City Court employees "do a very good job, but, with a limitation of $50, is it functional in 2018?"

 

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