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Trial Court Budget | Workload Formula Policy Base Funding Floor Adjustment Process (Action Required)
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Summary
The Judicial Council’s Workload Formula policy includes an annual base funding floor adjustment process for the two smallest trial courts, the Superior Courts of Alpine and Sierra Counties. The funding floor process was established in fiscal year 2014-15 because the standard workload metrics did not accurately represent the funding needs of these very small courts. The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends an update to how the base funding floor policy is applied in the methodology to ensure the maximum amount of funding is provided to the floor courts. This change will improve clarity and transparency in the Workload Formula funding floor adjustment process while ensuring the two funding floor courts have sufficient resources to meet essential operational needs and maintain minimum staffing levels.
Recommendation
Effective October 16, 2026, the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council approve an update to the Workload Formula policy’s base funding floor adjustment so that the base funding floor amount is treated as a minimum floor rather than a capped amount. This change will allow the floor courts to retain their full Workload Formula allocation in fiscal years when the calculated allocation exceeds the established floor amount. In years when the calculated allocation is lower than the established base funding floor amount, the existing policy remains in effect with the other 56 courts contributing funding on a proportional basis to bring the floor court’s allocation to the required level.