« Environment - More on: IDEM meetings introduce new antidegradation rules | Main | Law - "Where’s the Rulebook for Sex Verification? " »
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Ind. Courts - "Budget battles not over in St. Joseph County"
Some quotes from about half-way through a story dated Aug. 20th by Troy Kehoe of WSBT.com, South Bend:
Juvenile Justice Center administrator and Probate Court Judge Peter Nemeth is preparing too, submitting a budget nearly identical to last year's — that keeps cuts implemented over the last two years intact."We have cut about 20% over the last two years," he said.
But, the JJC/Probate Court budget does include some increases in the form of pay raises for eight of his employees — issued earlier this year despite the County Council's objection.
Nemeth called the Council's "refusal to permit raises, unjust, unfair and discriminatory" at the time. Under Indiana law, judges can "mandate" the amount of money they need to "operate their courts sufficiently." But, ultimately, their budgets are set by the County Council, and approved by County Commissioners.
Nemeth's judicial mandate would change that; boosting Probate Court employees' pay by a total of $60,208. Including fringe benefit costs, Nemeth estimates the total cost to be around $79,000.
The County Council refused to adhere to the mandate, and the matter will go before a specially appointed judge next month.
Nemeth says even if he loses, he won't cut.
"I don't think that's going to happen. But, if it does, I'll have to take another look and determine what to do. Obviously, it's a new budget year. Might have to try a different approach. Might have to issue another mandate," Nemeth said.
And, if he's asked to make additional cuts in that case?
"It would be virtually impossible to do without shutting things down," Nemeth said.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 22, 2009 02:22 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts | Indiana Government