By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 15, 2023//
By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 15, 2023//
On Wednesday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed Milwaukee County’s 2024 budget, which according to local officials, delivers a major win for access to justice in Milwaukee County and invests in sustained efficiency and progress within county court operations.
Changes in the 2024 budget proposed by the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office and reflected in the final adopted budget include:
· Establishing a new position coordinating language access services in Milwaukee County’s public-facing court support and self-help offices, a critical role in a court system that serves a diverse and multilingual community.
· Establishing a new position coordinating Small Claims court operations, also a vital role at an important transition point as small claims proceedings return to an in-person format.
· Providing capital budget funding to begin planning and design for an appropriate evidentiary storage facility for Milwaukee County’s criminal courts, to replace existing facilities that have fallen into disrepair.
According to officials, the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Office also collaborated with staff in Milwaukee County’s Office of Strategy, Budget, and Performance to develop a 2024 budget that reflects efforts to conserve public resources. The approved budget reflects a reduction in overall tax levy within the Combined Court Related Operations organizational unit (org 200). Existing funds have been rededicated to support new strategic investments.