COUNTY DEBATES COURT EXPENSE; COMPUTERS MAY COST $63,000

When Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones does the math, funding for a new court automation program doesn't quite add up.

Over the past three years, the local circuit court has paid $128,000 toward the cost of automation. The $7-per-case fee for automation continues for seven more years. At the current rate, Cape County would pay another $300,000 toward automation costs.

The state says automating the local circuit court will cost a total of $112,000, but the state court system says the county should pay the cost of new computers, which could be as much as $63,000.

Counties aren't required to pay for hardware, but those that do will get automated first.

"We're in a dilemma," Jones said. "Do we provide our judges with up-to-date stuff now and take it between the eyes? Or do we wait?"

According to a report from Electronic Courts 2004, the county needs 23 new machines plus a number of upgrades to participate in statewide automation of court records.

By tying in with the statewide system, Missourians could pay traffic tickets through an automatic teller machine, lawyers could access records quickly and far-flung circuit courts could communicate online.

The state court's plan would link all 45 judicial circuits and the appeals court by computers.

The Missouri Legislature approved the automation project in 1994. A $7 increase in court filing fees is expected to raise $4.5 million a year to be earmarked for the project for 10 years. After that, the money would go to state general revenue.

Commissioners wondered how the state court is spending the money Cape County has sent in, besides buying new computer programs to run court automation.

The commission plans to meet Thursday with circuit judges and the circuit clerk to discuss whether automation will be included in this year's budget.

Commissioners held preliminary budget discussions Monday. Once preliminary questions are answered, a budget will be printed and a public hearing set, perhaps later this month.