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Weathering the Economic Storm—The Challenges of Delivering Court Services

Weathering the Economic Storm—The Challenges of Delivering Court Services. Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 28, 2009. Daniel J. Hall, Vice President National Center for State Courts.

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Weathering the Economic Storm—The Challenges of Delivering Court Services

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  1. Weathering the Economic Storm—The Challenges of Delivering Court Services Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 28, 2009 Daniel J. Hall, Vice President National Center for State Courts

  2. Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, October 20, 2009

  3. Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, October 20, 2009

  4. How will the federal stimulus package affect court budgets? Source: COSCA Budget Survey June 12, 2009

  5. Source: COSCA Budget Survey June 12, 2009

  6. Source: COSCA Budget Survey September 16, 2009

  7. What Are the Options for Courts? • Cut Spending • Increase Revenue • Enhance Efficiencies See handout of state court actions as of September 16, 2009

  8. Spending Cuts Used During the Last Recession

  9. Raise Fees and Fines To What Extent can Fees and Fines be Raised to Generate Funds to Pay for Judicial Responsibilities?

  10. Definitions • General Funds: legislature appropriates money from the general fund (from taxes, fees and fines, etc.) to pay for judicial operations. • Cash Funds—revenues from fees and fines are committed by statute for a specific purpose (technology, court security, or general use to cover core judicial operations) and appropriated by the legislature.

  11. How Do State Courts Use Cash Funds? Source: COSCA Survey, May 2007

  12. Common Cash Fund Designations in 24 States

  13. State Court Use of Cash Funds

  14. How Are Appellate Courts Affected (2009)? • COLRS: • 11 face decreases; 17 increases; 2 no change • IACs • 2009: 11 face decreases; 27 had increases and 6 had no change • 2010 break even

  15. The Silver Lining • Courts are being significantly shielded from the worst of the budget impacts in most states.  • Federal stimulus will lessen reduction in court budgets—for now • “Never waste a good crisis” • CJ Broderick, New Hampshire

  16. State Courts Actively Looking at Reengineering Their Services • Alabama • Florida • Minnesota • New Hampshire • Iowa • Nebraska • Rhode Island • Utah • Vermont

  17. Summary • Budgets will be bad for years to come • Structural deficits in state budgets • Demographic shifts (fewer workers, more retirees) • Rising health, education and transportation costs • Fees and fines cannot be significantly increased (list) • Mandated services are not necessarily the most important services • Business as usual will result in reduced services

  18. NCSC Online Budget Resource Center http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Budget/home.asp

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