Financing the Courts

Arkansas' courts are financed through state, county and city appropriations. The degree of funding from each source depends upon the level of jurisdiction of the court being funded. State government is the sole funding source for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, appellate court support staff, and the Administrative Office of the Courts. In addition, the state funds the salaries and costs of travel and educational assistance for circuit and chancery judges, and the salaries for court reporters and case coordinators. The state also pays for one-half of the salaries of juvenile intake and probation officers who serve the judges of the juvenile division of chancery court. Beginning January 1, 1998, the state will assume the responsibility for the salaries of the public defender system. State government has budgeted almost $25 million for these costs for fiscal year 1996-97. The operating funds apportioned to the courts at this level represent less than one-half of one percent of the total state government operating appropriation which totaled over $10 billion in 1996-97. This amount includes all state and federal funds appropriated by the state.

County government is the funding source for the salaries of all circuit, chancery and probate court support and clerical staff and for all supplies, equipment, utilities and facilities within each judicial circuit. Each county within the circuit provides funding according to its pro rata share of the district-wide court expenses and is solely responsible for the costs of facilities and utilities within the county. County government pays all expenses of the county court, court of common pleas, and justice of the peace courts. The county government also shares with city government the cost of the municipal court. The county share is usually 50%, but there are numerous exceptions to this pattern in a variety of locally negotiated arrangements.

City government is responsible for the remainder of municipal court expenses not provided by county government and provides the sole support for city and police courts.

A major shift in the way the state judiciary is funded began in 1995 with the adoption of the Uniform Court Cost Act and the creation of the State Administration of Justice Fund. The structure has now been put in place, which will allow for the gradual shifting of funding for the courts from the city and county level to the state level.