Title
Title
Trial Court Budget | Technical Refinement of Approved Workload Formula Methodology (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends adopting technical refinements to current policy parameters for the Workload Formula. While current policy supports the objectives of the judicial branch in reaching workload-based equitable funding for trial courts, some parameters require clarification in their implementation. Providing clear allocation methodologies will further the goal of funding equity, minimize adverse funding impacts to trial courts, and provide clear direction on applying policy parameters.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee unanimously recommends the Judicial Council adopt the following, effective January 17, 2020:
1. Specify that the methodology for the first 50 percent allocation of new funding to courts below the statewide average be scaled by courts' distance from the statewide average and size based on the courts' Workload Formula need;
2. Include an exception for consistency purposes to allow the 2020-21 funding provided in the 2019 Budget Act for support of the 25 judgeships to apply the same allocation methodology used for 2019-20; and
3. Specify that the reallocation of funding for every second year in which no new money is provided be based on beginning Workload Formula allocations, distributed to courts via distance from statewide average and size based on Workload Formula need, and in the following sequence:
a. Up to 1 percent reduction for courts above the 2 percent band to courts below the 2 percent band.
b. Up to 2 percent reduction for courts above 105 percent of funding need to courts below the 2 percent band.
c. Courts above 105 percent of funding need will not fall below 104 percent of funding need.
d. Courts that penetrate into the band following the up to 1 percent reallocation will not be eligible for additional funding...
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