San Luis Obispo County Superior Court to cut $1 million from budget

August 15, 2011

State budget cuts will leave San Luis Obispo Superior Court about $1 million short of its $19 million 2011 operating budget. [The Tribune]

Cuts of $350 million, the largest in state’s history, from judicial the branch’s budget for fiscal year 2011-12 have raised fears of major delays and layoffs throughout the state.

Similar drastic cuts are projected in the state for next year. New courthouse construction has also been put on hold. Legislators shifted $310 million from a courthouse construction fund to help cover this years shortfall.

A management team of court officials and county judges responsible for balancing the budget and making drastic cuts is expected to complete its work within a month.

“Everything is on the table, including reducing court hours, furloughs, layoffs and closing courtrooms,” Susan Matherly, the local court’s executive officer, told the Tribune.

About 80 percent of the superior court’s budget is payroll. Normal staffing is 162 employees but currently runs at 145 employees because of a hiring freeze since 2009 in which jobs have been left vacant through attrition.