Government
Counties struggle after losing court revenue
|
By MICHAEL KRANSZ
Capital News Service
LANSING — A Michigan Supreme Court decision cutting a major source of funding for local courts could cost some counties more than $1 million, unless the Legislature reinstates their ability to assess court costs in criminal cases. The decision struck down a long-standing practice that reduced local courts’ reliance on taxpayers after the Supreme Court concluded that they lack the legal authority to collect the money. The estimated yearly loss ranges from $1.5 million in Berrien County to $45,000 in Missaukee County, according to the Michigan Association of Counties. Manistee County Treasurer Russell Pomeroy said the loss of funding places him, and other local officials, in uncertainty as they reconfigure their budgets and wait for legislative action. “We’re just hoping that the Legislature will come up with some sort of fix because that’s a large hit for us to take all in one year,” Pomeroy said.