41B District Court Prepares $5.2 Million Budget, Anticipates Surplus in 2013

Judges of the 41B District Court in Clinton Township say they expect the court's budget to stay in the black again next year, and possibly see a surplus.

Chief Judge Sebastian Lucido and District Judge Carrie Lynn Fuca presented the court's 2013 budget for approval to the Clinton Township board Monday.

"We've seen a decrease in expenditures from 2012 to 2013 and we've had a little bit of a reduction in staff through attrition," Lucido said. "We've lowered our healthcare costs and are also anticipating a surplus from our budget for 2012 and we're anticipating a surplus for 2013 as well."

The judges proposed a balanced total budget of $5,201,100, which is slightly lower than the 2012 budget. Documents presented to the township board attribute this drop to a decrease in grant funding.

The court applied for four Drug Court Grant Funds, but has received only one for $145,000 to date.

While the court's budget has increased each year since the court consolidated its branches in Clinton Township in 2008, documents provided for the presentation say this is partly due to an increase in fines and costs.

"Fines and costs have increased over the court's five-year history, but have leveled off as people are having a harder time paying fines in the current economy," read the documents presented to the board.

Salaries and benefits remain the court's biggest expense, with $2.9 million, or 56 percent of the budget, allocated for 2013. A new heathcare plan, which the court is currently negotiating, is expected to save $106,296 from the 2012 total for salaries and benefits.

The amount budgeted for salaries has also decreased $15,000 due to a reduction in staff through over the past two years and the decision to hire part-time employees to replace full-time employees who have retired or left.

The Clinton Township board approved the 2013 budget as presented.

Five-Year Budget Totals

• 2009: $4,861,000
• 2010: $5,003,000
• 2011: $5,258,000
• 2012: $5,209,000
• 2013: $5,201,100

The 41B District Court also serves Harrison Township and Mount Clemens.