Budget Resource
Center

...providing state budgets, reports, and current news to help the court community make informed budgetary decisions.

Iowa

Actions Underway

• Iowa is primarily a state-funded system.  The counties pay for facilities and some services such as security and the cost of some interpreters.
• Halfway through FY 09 Iowa’s budget was reduced by $3.9 million (4%), and for much of the legislative session faced the possibility of a $15.3 million shortfall in FY 10, including built-in mandatory expenditure increases.  As part of its budget reduction plan, Iowa scheduled 8 court closure days (furlough days) between February 16th and June 30th, and reduced public access to clerk of court offices by 2 hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. 
• In the closing hours of its session, the legislative took action to improve the situation somewhat.  By increasing certain filing fees and court costs, effective immediately, the judicial branch received a last minute supplemental appropriation of $760,000 for FY 09 and an $11 million increase over the previously passed FY 10 budget that reduced the shortfall to $4.2 million. 
• Due to savings in other areas of the budget -- e.g., hiring freeze, travel reduction, etc.-- and the supplemental appropriation, Iowa was able to reduce the number of court closure days from 8 to 5, one of which included all judicial officers using new statutory authority for the court to place judicial officers in unpaid leave status. 
• Iowa is looking at a reorganization of its management infrastructure.  The court is working with a consultant to reengineer the delivery of finance and personnel functions
• "Court Budget Challenges: We Want Your Ideas." The Iowa Judicial Branch is asking for the public to weigh in on what cuts or actions should be taken to create a stable budget.
• Iowa is looking at merging internal court operations, and creating more flexibility in the allocation of judges and court personnel.

Reports and Articles

• Grant Schulte. "Reduced Staff Puts Bigger Workload on Iowa Judges." Des Moines Register. August 17, 2009.
• Amy Lorentzen. "Senior Judges Pitch in to Ease Caseload." Chicago Tribune. August 16, 2009.
• Associated Press. "Iowa Courts Cut $5.4 Million From 2010 Budget." ChicagoTribune.com. June 25, 2009.
• "7th Judicial Distirct Won't Get More Judges, Furlough Days Cancelled." Quad-City Times. May 27, 2009.
• Molly Montag. "Court Furloughs Taking a Toll." SiouxCityJournal.com. May 18, 2009.
• Dean Close. "Clerk of Court Budget Affects Hours, Court Availability." The Vinton Eagle Area News. April 15, 2009.
  
• "Iowa Rural Advocates Object to Judges' Travel Limits." Globe Gazette. April 2, 2009.
• "Iowa Courtrooms Dark, Deserted On Friday." KCCI.com. March 20, 2009.
• Mike Glover. "Lawmakers Complain Court Cuts Hurt Rural Iowa." The Chicago Tribune. March 19, 2009.
• Mike Glover. "Iowa Senate Approves $30 million Spending Cut." Chicago Tribune. March 6, 2009.
• Olivia Moran. "Budget Cuts Worry Iowa Courts." The Daily Iowan. March 2, 2009.
• The Associated Press. "Iowa will Close Courts for Seven Days Due to Budget." KCRG - TV News. February 27, 2009.
• John Mangalonzo. "Court Budget Woes Continue." The Hawkeye.com. February 19, 2009.
• Iowa Judicial Branch. "Judicial Branch Operating Budget: FY09-FY10 Expense Reduction Update." February 19, 2009.
• "Court Budget Faces Cuts." KPTH Fox 44 News. February 4, 2009.
• "Chief Justice: Budget Cuts will Hurt Court Services." Iowa Independent. January 19, 2009.
• David Boyd. "FY 2009 Judicial Branch Budget Request." Presentation to Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee. January 24, 2008.

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.

State Links

• Court Budget Web Sites
• Strategic Planning
• State Budgets for 2009
• State Budget Offices