Title
Title
Trial Court Budget | Court Interpreters Program Fiscal Year 2024-25 Midyear Reallocation and Augmentation
(Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
High rates charged by independent contractors are one of several factors that has led to the recent marked increase in court interpreter expenses. Based on identified court need for Court Interpreters Program funding in the Trial Court Trust Fund, the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends a midyear reallocation of approximately $637,000 and an augmentation of $11.6 million for fiscal year 2024-25 to address anticipated funding shortfalls due to increasing interpreter costs and expenses. The allocations will help maintain the current levels of interpreter services for court users.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective April 25, 2025:
1. Approve the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 midyear reallocation of $637,000 and augmentation of $11.6 million from the remaining $30.4 million Court Interpreters Program savings balance, as outlined in Attachment A;
2. Direct council staff to conduct an additional survey before the end of FY 2024-25 to reallocate available savings to those courts with a funding shortfall based on final expenditures for the current year; and
3. Direct council staff to repeat the midyear survey and reallocation process in FY 2025-26 and determine whether the trial courts need additional funding from the remaining program savings balance of $18.8 million to support court interpreter services.
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