Chief Justice Moore Says Layoffs Coming Without More Money

by WAKA Action 8 News

The Chief Justice started this session asking for 26 million extra dollars. Now that the general fund budget is through both houses,  that money isn’t there. 

The entire judicial branch is looking at a budget of about 112 million dollars so far. 

That number hasn’t changed throughout the whole budget process, but Chief Justice Roy Moore says that’s not enough money.

“What the governor recommended is not even level funding. That’s the problem. We’re not getting level funded from year to year. Over the years since 2001 we’ve lost 30 million dollars. We’ve lost 305 personnel,” said Moore.

And the Chief Justice is asking for an additional 5 million dollars. If not, there could be even more layoffs in the future. 

“If we don’t get level funded, then you have to layoff people. And right now, we’ve just not got the money the court system is supposed to get. The legislature and the governor have not reasonably or adequately funded the judicial branch.”

And just how many people are we talking about?

“As many as it takes to make up a 5 million dollar deficit. We’ve got some very dedicated employees right now. Our employees haven’t received merit raises since 2008. They’re talking about merit raises in other branches and the legislature even suggested we get merit raises. But we can’t if we have to lay off people,” said Chief Justice Moore.

He says part of the solution could be using part of the education budget for the courts.

“We’ve asked for something like 27 million from the education trust fund for juvenile courts and juvenile services. That is for children. And yet they will not open that up.”