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Do IT this week: Layering
Money is from special projects fund, probation fees
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Thursday, Sep 17, 2009
STOW: Stow Municipal Court judges have stepped forward to help stave off a projected $1 million deficit in the city's budget.
The court has delivered a check for $750,000 from the court funds to Mayor Karen Fritchel.
Judge Kim Hoover said $500,000 of the money is from the court's special projects fund — started to pay construction costs for the new courthouse in Stow — and $250,000 from the court's collection of probation fees.
Hoover said there is still plenty of money left in the special projects fund for the court to make its projected $350,000 payment toward construction costs next year.
''There's no reason to make extra payments to pay off the court building earlier when communities are going through
tough times,'' Hoover said.
The Stow court serves the communities of Boston Heights, Boston Township, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Northfield Center Township, Peninsula, Reminderville, Sagamore Hills, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg and Twinsburg Township.
The cities and villages receive most of the fine money from cases that originated in their jurisdictions, Court Administrator Rick Klinger said. Some goes to the county, and some to the state, depending on which code is written on the complaint.
If there is not enough collected in court costs throughout the year to cover the more than $2 million in operating expenses, the communities must return the fine money they received to make up the difference. Then the host city — Stow — must pay the rest.
In the first year since moving from the Falls, the Stow Municipal Court is expected to fall about $450,000 short of projected revenues from fines and fees. About $250,000 of that amount is the result of Cuyahoga Falls starting its own mayor's court and taking away ticket revenues from minor traffic cases.
Mayor Karen Fritschel said the infusion of cash should bring the court's deficit to what Stow expected to have covered when the court was invited to move to the city.
''Obviously, we've lost some funding,'' she said. ''We don't want the taxpayers to have to cover it.''
Hoover and Judge Lisa L. Coates also have trimmed the court's operating costs by about $200,000 by eliminating three part-time magistrates and cutting two judicial division jobs by attrition. The moves represent a 16 percent reduction in staff.
''We want to be good community partners, and good stewards of the communities' money,'' Hoover said.
STOW: Stow Municipal Court judges have stepped forward to help stave off a projected $1 million deficit in the city's budget.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 03:13 AM, 09/17/2009
What is wrong with stow? ho
Stow, Oh
Posted 07:12 AM, 09/17/2009
What is wrong with Stow? They spend too much money on fluff and not enough on necessities.
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:12 AM, 09/17/2009
If they hadn't built the Taj Mahal of courthouses, maybe the city of Stow wouldn't be so broke.
Cuyahoga Falls, oh
Posted 08:28 AM, 09/17/2009
If you want to save money in Stow do as Akron is and law off police and fire.. LOL
Barberton, Oh
Posted 09:14 AM, 09/17/2009
"Leaders" of Stow: It may be time to revamp your thinking. Many an individual tried to warn you of the costs associated with hosting a money pit muni court. Yes I read the aforementioned article. This money, I can guarantee you though, is a one time gift. It wasn't until I educated myself in the bylaws of municipal courts that I completely understood why the mayor of CFO was so willing to give up the court. The court is not an entity for which community pride is elicited. This building and those that occupy it will be the bain of your existence. Time to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses' (CFO) and sell your golf course and pray that the understaffed police dept you have begins to pick up their citation count. King Hoover will be abdicating his throne soon and leave financial ruins in his wake.
AKRON, OH
Posted 01:10 PM, 09/17/2009
I guess the ABJ did not approve of my agreeing with another post who stated Hoover can afford to be generous and give the City of Stow money after ripping off anyone had an infraction that fell within his jurisdiction.
akron, oh
Posted 05:19 PM, 09/17/2009
''Obviously, we've lost some funding,'' she said. ''We don't want the taxpayers to have to cover it.''
So Mayor, who is going to pay for your mistake? Will it be the fireman or police officers, I guess we will just have to wait and see.
akron, oh
Posted 07:03 AM, 09/18/2009
Hey, if you have any extra send it to Akron.
Posted 10:24 AM, 09/18/2009
As a homeowner/tax paying citizen living in lovely Stow, why would I have to pay for the Court House nobody really wanted in the first place. I'd like for Stow to pay for the latteral lines,sump pump & extras.. Stow said we "had" to do. The cost was to me not to them. All I can say is Judge Hoover I'd like a check for $6,000.
Barberton, OH
Posted 04:57 AM, 09/19/2009
''Obviously, we've lost some funding,'' she said. ''We don't want the taxpayers to have to cover it.''
If it wasn't in taxes, it was in tickets. Citizens paid for that court house, plus some. And now they act as if it's a "gift" to give back to the deficit?! Pssssh. Please!
