News

Budget Discussions Underway

February 20, 2013

Check out facts that help to put the costs of Pennsylvania’s courts in context.

• Pennsylvania courts spend approximately ½ of 1 percent of the state budget which was $64.9 billion this year.
• In the tight fiscal times of the past five years, the judiciary has saved $33.9 million by actions such as eliminating magisterial district judge offices; increasing contributions made by judges and staff to health care; urging that Common Pleas and magisterial district court vacancies not be filled; limiting or eliminating pay increases and cost of living increases; and renegotiating contracts.
• The judiciary collects far more in fines, fees and restitution than it receives from the state budget. Most collections by the judiciary do not fund the state court system, but go to state and local governments for general operating or program costs. Over the last six years, the criminal courts alone have collected more than $2.78 billion while the entire judiciary has received less than $1.77 billion state tax dollars.
• Supreme Court leadership has saved $200 million for state and local governments over the past two years through the commitment of its Office of Child and Families in the Court to safely reduce the number of dependent and delinquent children in temporary foster care.
• Court budgets are “people driven”
  • Half the state judicial workforce is judges and half is staff; the number of staff has remained flat for the past several years.
  • Judges are needed to hear and decide cases and staff are needed to process cases.
  • Of the entire judiciary budget, some 85 percent goes toward personnel costs.
• Pennsylvanians expect timely consideration from their courts.
  • People expect judges to be available to hear their cases and businesses depend on timely adjudication.
  • Supreme Court considers petitions to hear nearly 3,000 cases each year.
  • Commonwealth Court is the only one of its kind in the nation and helps expedite cases relating to government agencies.
  • Pennsylvania’s Superior Court is among the nation’s busiest and has been recognized as one of the most efficient.
  • Presently there are 95 problem-solving courts (drug courts, DUI courts, veterans courts, mental health courts) that hold defendants accountable by providing intensive supervision to reduce recidivism.
• Pennsylvania’s court computerization, which is the most advanced in the nation, is entirely funded by fees.
  • Court computerization has helped ensure efficiency and public access to records, and has helped increased collections of fines, fees, costs and restitution.
  • Fee revenue is declining, foreshadowing funding problems in years to come in maintaining these systems.

Unlike some states, Pennsylvania’s courts have remained open during recent funding shortfalls and the judiciary is proud of that fact. The court will continue to look for ways to save money and be more efficient while working with its sister branches to ensure Pennsylvanians access to justice, just as the Constitution promises.