Title
Joint resolution authorizing an increase in the court automation fee collected by the Clerk of the Circuit Court from $7 to $12 effective December 1, 2011.
Staff Summary
· Lake County currently assesses a court automation fee of $7 to litigants in all civil cases and to defendants in felony, traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance and conservation cases upon a judgment of guilty or a grant of supervision.
· The maximum fee allowed by Public Act 94-595, which was effective on January 1, 2006, is $15.
· During the budget process, there were concerns about the sustainability of the court automation fund because expenses exceeded revenues in the FY11 and the proposed FY12 budgets.
· Given these concerns and the technology needs of the courts, court staff has determined that it is appropriate to consider a $5 fee increase at this time.
· The Chief Judge and the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who jointly oversee the court automation fund, support the proposed fee increase, which will generate approximately $600,000 in new revenue.
Body
WHEREAS, Lake County currently assesses a court automation fee of $7 to litigants in all civil cases and to defendants in felony, traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance and conservation cases upon a judgment of guilty or a grant of supervision as allowed by Illinois statute (705 ILCS 105/27.3a); and
WHEREAS, Public Act 94-595, which was effective on January 1, 2006, allows county boards to authorize the Clerk of the Circuit Court to charge a court automation fee of up to $15; and
WHEREAS, court staff has determined that a $5 increase in the court automation fee is appropriate at this time to offset expenses in the court automation fund; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the Circuit Court, who jointly oversee the court automation fund, have no objections to the proposed fee increase; and
WHEREAS, it is therefore recommended that the court automation fee of $7 be increased to $12 effective December 1, 201...
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