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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) -- Taylorsville officials are considering whether to shutter the city's justice court as a cost-saving measure.
Since 2007 the court has lost about $850,000 and is on track to lose another $400,000 by summer.
City officials attribute the losses in part to expensive diversion programs -- drug court and domestic violence court -- aimed at helping defendants who agree to counseling and drug testing correct past mistakes and get their lives on track.
The programs have been praised for their success, but can be considered more costly because the fines associated with criminal charges are sometimes waived. Defendants do pay for counseling and testing, but not for mandatory meetings that include the participation of judges, public attorneys, bailiffs and court clerks.
Budget shortfalls have been thus far covered by the city's general fund. But city officials say they're not sure the court and its programs should be operated at the expense of other city needs, like police services or paving roads.
"I'm not convinced we're getting the best results for the money we're spending, but I don't think they're bad," Mayor Russ Wall said. "I'm just not sure it's the responsibility of the taxpayers to pay for it."
Our first step shouldn't be nuclear Armageddon,
–Judge Michael Kwan
Judge Michael Kwan, who started the diversion programs disagrees and wants the court to remain open.
"I think that these options don't make sense in terms of the money that we would continue to lose," Judge Michael Kwan told the City Council on Wednesday. "Our first step shouldn't be nuclear Armageddon."
Taylorsville Justice Court opened in 1998, two years after the city incorporated.
Not all the court's budget problems stem from diversion program. For a time, fine collection ceased. But that problem is being remedied with a system of accruing interest for late payments, garnishment of state tax refunds and personnel reorganization.
City officials say they could close the court and contract for services with courts in West Jordan or West Valley City. The justice court handles traffic violations and class B and C misdemeanor offenses that originate in the city.
It's unclear what contracting for court services would cost.
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Information from: Deseret News
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
