Senate makes few changes to judicial aspects of budget

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Of the 150 changes made by the Wisconsin State Senate to the Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) version of the state budget, very few affected the judicial system, corrections, or district attorneys.

“Of all the things in this budget, judicial and corrections are the least controversial,” said Jeffrey Pertl, legislative assistant to Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee). “At the same time, I think this is generally a very good budget for the justice system.”

On June 26, the Senate approved its 2007-09 version of the biennial budget with a handful of minor additions to the judicial provisions passed by the JFC in May.

The Senate retained Gov. Jim Doyle’s $19.1 million in state support for circuit court operations to be funded by an increase in the real estate transfer fee, as adopted by the JFC.

The plan would call for $9.1 million in 2007-08 and $10 million in 2008-09 for increased payments to counties for circuit court costs, which under the current budget receive $18.7 million annually.

Also included in the JFC and Senate versions is the addition of an attorney position and $78,200 in 2007-08, and $99,400 in 2008-09, to re-create the Judicial Council as a separate agency.

The most prominent modifications by the Senate call for an additional judgeship and court reporter position in the Kenosha County Circuit Court. An election would be held in spring 2009, and the term would run from Aug. 1, 2009 to July 15, 2015.

Language in the Senate’s budget stated that since the term would commence after the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year, costs associated with the positions would not occur until the 2009-11 budget. Based on current salary levels, annual funding needed would be $230,500.

Also added were an additional $49,300 in 2007-08 and an additional $49,800 in 2008-09 to convert the elected district attorney in Trempealeau County to full-time status. An additional district attorney position was called for in Polk County, effective Jan. 1, 2009 and two part-time district attorney positions in Rock County and St. Croix County, effective Jan. 1, 2008.

Whether the relatively smooth passage continues through the state Assembly is yet to be determined, but John Murray, communications director for Assembly Speaker Michael Huebsch, said judicial aspects of the budget were “not even on the speaker’s radar at this point.”

“The judicial aspect of the budget hasn’t gotten a lot of attention, probably because there’s not as much controversy there as in other areas right now,” said Murray, who declined to comment on specifics, but noted that Assembly working groups were addressing each aspect of the budget in a timely manner.