Kentucky lawmakers, particularly republicans, who don't want to be accused of raising taxes, are hoping the court system will do it for them.
The 2 year state executive branch budget approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, includes $13.4 million in revenue from increased court fees. But lawmakers aren't raising those fees. They're giving the Kentucky Supreme Court the power to raise filing fees, with the judicial branch getting the first $5 million/yr. and the rest going to the general fund. Court officials estimate that would be about $6 million/yr.
Administrative Office of the Courts Director Jason Nemes says he expects Chief Justice Joseph Lambert to recommend that his fellow justices approve the hike in filing fees:
$50 - Circuit Court Civil cases
$25 - District Court Civil cases
$26 - Wage Garnishment filings
Nemes says the extra cash is needed to fill some of the hole left in the court system's budget from cuts this year and next. Court officials across Kentucky have been steamed about the legislature cutting their branch's budget while approving 5% per year increases in the legislative branch budget.
I still cannot get past legislation approving a 5%
increase each yr. for the next 2 years and justify
that to their constituants. It will be interesting to hear how they explain that to us because no matter what is said, it is not fair by
any means to those of us who have had our budget cut. I work for the judicial branch and we have taken cuts (extreme cuts) the last budget session.
Keep it going up there in Frankfort and there will
be no government. I also know that there have been several comments about releasing non-violent
prisioners so my question is: Do we cease having juries trials for these petty crimes in the future? Because is that is the case, what is the point to have a jury convict and sentence them knowing that they will be getting released? You are up there doing all the budget cutting while most of us is at home trying to do our jobs we were hired to do. and for those who say state workers don't work...come and work with me for 2 or 3 weeks in my office and you may come away with a different perspective on state employees.