June 25, 2012 5:10 PM
KATIE LUCIA, Staff Writer
BARSTOW • County court officials say they are looking at closing the Barstow courthouse among other options as they brace for “staggering” funding cuts from the state.
Under the proposed state budget, California Superior Courts in San Bernardino County could see a projected $21 million in cuts for the fiscal year beginning July 1. That’s a fifth of their current operating budget, according to Court Executive Officer Stephen Nash. The cuts would include a one-time reduction of between $14 and $15 million to the court’s reserve — slashing more than half of the $27.5 million currently saved in the fund.
“Truly, these are staggering cuts that are facing the court system,” Nash said.
But the court’s financial crisis is bigger than the cuts, Nash said. This fiscal year they expect to end $5 million in the red due to last year’s cut. They will have to dig into their now-shrinking reserves.
When all is said and done, Nash expects an ongoing annual shortfall of $19.3 to $21 million.
“That’s a significant operations hit,” Nash said.
To balance the budget, Presiding Judge Ronald Christianson is considering all options, Nash said, including closing courthouses in Barstow and other sites.
Cutting staff and benefits is another option on the table, Nash said. With more than 80 percent of the budget for San Bernardino County courts spent on staff, officials are already meeting with employees to discuss ways they can reduce costs.
Either way, the cuts will affect the 37 court employees in Barstow.
“When you look at reductions like this, it forces you to look at everything and that’s what we’re doing,” Nash said.
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What does this mean for the citizens of Barstow? Long drives, long lines ….if you are a crime victim, do you have to drive to Victorville to get justice?
Rick,
You ask a good question, but I have a better one….. Where the “F” are those who were sent to Barstow from Parker, Havasu Landing, and Needles from Needles court when it closed going to go?
Fricken idiots!!
Why is it that the desert communities are the first to get cut? It seems to me that the desert always takes the cuts. Why don’t the powers to be cut out the Fontana Court? Or how about Rancho,,,why are the rich people exempted from cuts?? Why not close Chino Court??? The Courts closed Big Bear and Needles so now the desert citizens are getting screwed again?? Where are the Judges going to be housed …there is no room in Victorville.
If Presiding Judge Ronald Christianson is really “considering all options,” might I suggest this one: having all court employees work at the same pace as private sector employees have to.
A good start would be to have court proceedings scheduled for 10:00 AM to actually start at 10:00 AM.
@to observer of facts:
You are on to something, how about no more do-nut eauting in the Judges chambers on Fridays. Maybe those DAs should do some work instead of listening to the Judge’s stupid jokes