Proposed cuts could lead to closing of two suburban courthouses

Over the past year, the Hennepin County court system has felt the budget squeeze, but, if further proposed cuts now pending at the Legislature are adopted, the budget squeeze could move to an all out budget choke.

“At some point you cannot cut any further,” said Mark Thompson, Fourth Judicial District Administrator.

With the state of Minnesota facing a $935 million deficit, a plan offered by Gov. Tim Pawlenty includes 4 percent budget cuts to most state agencies, including the courts. For the Fourth Judicial District that translates to a $1.8 million reduction. According to Thompson, such cuts could mean the courts would have to close two suburban courthouses in Minnetonka and Edina, one of which currently serves Eden Prairie.

The cuts could also lead to a reduction in services from the Domestic Abuse Service Center and Pro Se Service Centers, which help those who cannot afford an attorney.

Anderson said the biggest impact would be on people who were victims of domestic crime, “people who can’t afford attorneys,” and  “people who live in the suburbs who would have to then drive downtown for everything.”

That includes Eden Prairie.

According to Police Chief Rob Reynolds, such a change would magnify the already tight calendar the courts have.

“It’s going to be a longer wait for people to have their cases heard.”

It also means that police, witnesses and all those who might be involved in a court case would have to drive downtown for their work.

According to Anderson, about 60,000 cases are handled between the two suburban courts. That means all those involved in those 60,000 cases would either be switched to the downtown Minneapolis Courthouse or the Brooklyn Center location.

Reynolds explained that there are three suburban courts, Brookdale in Brooklyn Center, Ridgedale in Minnetonka and Southdale in Edina. EP’s cases are currently handled in Ridgedale.

“It’s not like any of them are operating at less than capacity,” Reynolds noted.

Tight budget

Any possible cuts made next year would be in addition to $1.6 million worth of staff and administrative costs the Fourth District cut from its budget this year.

To keep up with the budget, that means the courts keep up their vacancy rate. Thompson said they are down 44 staff members from where they were a year ago. Cuts implemented this year include anything from judge’s law books to court clerks. The most notable change from those cuts is that the court counter is closed to the public Wednesday afternoons.

Thompson explained that for most the past 100 years, courts were funded through the county.

About three years ago, he said, funding for the courts was transferred over to legislative appropriations funding.

“Initially it was decent funding because revenues were good in the state.”

During the most recent two-year funding process, the courts received $13 million less than what was requested.

“We got 13 million dollars statewide less than we needed to run the basic service,” said Thompson.

The courts have tried restructuring work, he said, to do it more efficiently. Nonetheless, Thompson warned, “We will break the dam” in terms of public access issues, if the Legislature cuts $1.8 million.

At the March 18 Eden Prairie City Council meeting, Council Member Sherry Butcher brought the issue up, and council members directed City Manager Scott Neal to draft a letter including the city’s concerns about such cuts.

“I am worried about these impacts,” Butcher said during the meeting.

“It’s a huge issue,” said Neal, in terms of convenience for Eden Prairie residents.

According to State Sen. David Hann (R-42), they’ve reviewed portions of the governor’s proposal in committee but he did not know to what extent the proposed cuts would be adopted.

Though he was not sure that what the governor proposed with respect to the courts would be adopted in its entirety, he suspects that “there will be cuts to practically every area of the administration.”

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-42B, Eden Prairie) said the courts should be the last place where any reductions should be proposed.

“I just think it’s wrongheaded to be doing that,” he said.

He predicted that there’s going to be some opposition to it.

According to Rep. Maria Ruud (R-42A, Minnetonka), they’ll be negotiating between the House version for budget targets and the governor’s version.

“Unfortunately I think there probably will be some cuts. Hopefully we can keep them from being so severe.”

As of press time, the Legislature had not finished work on the budget.

“The courts have already made some pretty significant cuts,” said Reynolds. “And to ask them to cut further, really it’s just not in the best interests of anyone.”