Title
Joint resolution amending the Court Service Fee Ordinance to increase various fees imposed by the Ordinance and requesting concurrence of the Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit to impose the fee increases.
Staff Summary
· The court services fee schedule, most recently adjusted in 2008, charges different rates for different types of cases.
· The current rates are between $8 and $20, all below the maximum fee of $25 allowed by Illinois Statute.
· Given the current economic climate, it is deemed appropriate and necessary that the rates for all case types except small claims be increased to the statutory maximum of $25. The fee for small claims cases will be increased to $15.
· The Chief Judge will concur with this fee increase through an administrative order.
· The proposed fee structure will generate about $934,000 in new revenue.
Body
WHEREAS, Illinois statutes (55 ILCS 5/5-1103) authorize county boards to establish a court services fee to defray the costs of court security; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board enacted a Court Services Fee Ordinance in 1989 that was amended in 1991, 1998 and, most recently, in 2008; and
WHEREAS, in the past, the court services fee schedule has included different rates for different types of cases with the concurrence of the Chief Judge; and
WHEREAS, given the current economic climate it is deemed appropriate and necessary that the rates for all case types except small claims be increased to the statutory maximum of $25; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the fee for small claims cases be increased to $15; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the County Board to amend its ordinance and for the Chief Judge to indicate concurrence through an administrative order to enact these changes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that effective December 1, 2009, the ORDINANCE ENACTING A COURT SERVICES FEE TO BE COLLECTED AT VARIOUS RATES WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE OF TH...
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