Don the budget problems compel us to negotiate?
A. The CRPA will not help court budgets in the next couple of years, which is the time period within which help is needed. The Judicial Council predicts court funding will start to stabilize in 2005-2006. By 2006-2007, we should see visible signs of improvement. Meanwhile, Senators Dunn and Ackerman have promised to work to fund the courts with an independent, dedicated revenue stream. And whether you voted for them or not, Propositions 57 and 58 will provide some overall relief for state budget shortfalls, which should take some pressure off the courts. If more cuts are forced on the courts, it is COCRA’s position that said cuts be spread out proportionately over all the judicial branch operations-from the Judicial Council on down. We are very willing to be a part of the solution, but it should not be on the backs of court reporters to bear the largest brunt of this burden.
