By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-994067.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – A budget update given by the state's judicial branch has both Florida chambers on board with the idea of finding a stable source of funding for the state's courts system. On Tuesday, a Senate panel unanimously agreed. And, as Sascha Cordner reports, a day later, the chair of the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee says he shares the same philosophy.
Last Spring, lawmakers told the courts they didn't have enough money to give the judicial branch the funds it needed to operate. Now, Republican Representative Rich Glorioso of Plant City says this has to change:
"It's strictly a cash flow problem. And, so we just have to figure out how we're going to arrange the cash to make sure they have the funding to start the year that they need as well as the funding so they can cover expenses so that they're not coming back and say we need loans because the cash is not coming in as expected."
Florida courts' get money from a trust fund as well as foreclosure filing fees. But, the number of foreclosures declined and the courts have a 100-million dollar deficit this year. Glorioso says for now, his committee is exploring different options to solve the courts' money problems.