Kansas Court System Seeks Funding Boost
Associated Press - Thu 07:54 AM 01/17/2013
The increase would allow the courts to eliminate $11 million in extra fees.
The Kansas Supreme Court hopes to end emergency surcharges that people pay to file lawsuits and get marriage licenses. The court wants legislators to rely more heavily on state tax dollars to finance the court system.
The judicial branch is proposing a 16 percent increase in the tax dollars it receives for the fiscal year beginning in July. The increase would be about $17 million, to $123 million from the current $106 million. The Supreme Court administers the court system.
The increase would allow the courts to eliminate $11 million in extra fees. The judiciary's total budget would be about $135 million, an increase of $3 million, or a relatively modest 2.1 percent.
Gov. Sam Brownback was required by law to include the proposals in his budget recommendations.
Comments must stay on topic and be respectful. Comments that are personal attacks, make unfounded accusations, or are for the purpose of "trolling" or inciting others will be removed. Offending users will have their profile suspended.
Post a comment Log in or Register to comment
Iamgonnagetyou
Friday 18 January 2013 08:18 Report this comment
The push for money continues with these courts. They make millions alone on tickets written by law enforcement for moving violations. I believe the last figure I saw was right at $100 for court costs for a speeding ticket. That is so unreasonable especially when the court is not hearing a case. The public should quit just paying these tickets and go to court to get their monies worth. If that happened it would really jam the courts up. Once again revenue is coming into the system but where is it going?
ifyousayso
Friday 18 January 2013 08:44 Report this comment
All traffic fines collected by district (county) courts are remitted to the state treasury, and are distributed in the following manner: 10.949% to the crime victims compensation fund; 2.24% to the crime victims assistance fund; 2.75% to the community alcoholism and intoxication programs fund; 7.65% to the department of corrections alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund; 0.16% to the boating fee fund; 0.11% to the children's advocacy center fund; 2.28% to the EMS revolving fund; 2.28% to the trauma fund; 2.28% to the traffic records enhancement fund; 2.91% to the Criminal Information Justice System The remainder to the state general fund. http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/faqs/violations.html#traffic