If approved by the Illinois Senate in a vote expected Thursday, a short-term state budget fix would at least temporarily resolve a funding problem for court reporters that has disrupted felony cases in Lake County.
Under the plan sponsored by Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, a $1.6 billion budget shortfall would be covered by about $1.3 billion transferred from certain state funds and another $300 million would come from spending cuts. The cost-cutting proposal reflects a 2.25-percent spending reduction in most areas of state government for the last three months of the current budget year.
The plan was approved by the Illinois House on Tuesday.
State Rep. Sheri Jesiel, R-Winthrop Harbor, said the House “has begun to conduct itself with the maturity Illinoisans have been demanding by taking the first difficult steps to address the $1.6 billion funding shortfall Gov. Rauner inherited from former Gov. Quinn.
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“Payroll shortfalls and layoffs have been prevented in our prisons and court systems, while essential child care services have been preserved,” Jesiel said of the House action, which still needs Senate approval. “However, most important of all, funding has been saved for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, the most vulnerable in our society that cannot stand to lose again.”
State Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, said Wednesday she will vote in favor of the plan, even though it sweeps some money from funds that she believes need continued protection.
“I’m willing to do that for one year,” said Bush, confirming the proposal does address the shortfall for court reporters. “We have to solve this problem.”
Bush said she has not yet attended a caucus on the issue, and that she could not say for sure whether the measure will have the votes to pass in the Senate
While pension payments and health care for the poor are largely protected, schools stand to lose an estimated $150 million through the end of June if the plan is approved.
The funding shortfall for court reporters has already led to furloughs and planned layoffs in circuit courts across the state.
In Lake County, the Circuit Court’s 21 court reporters are working half their normal hours in a staggered furlough program that went into effect earlier this month. The results have been noticeable to court officials and observers, as judges in felony courts have sporadically had to utilize one court reporter for two court calls, resulting in significant delays.
“We seem to have a crisis developing,” Judge George Bridges observed from the bench recently as he and Judge Victoria Rossetti had to combine both of their morning court calls in Bridge’s courtroom.
Statewide, the budget shows a roughly $17 million shortfall for the benefits and salaries of court reporters.
Lake County Chief Judge John Phillips has said he has been trying to minimize the “human toll” on court employees and operational issues in the court, but that the situation impacts trials, pleas and could eventually cause problems in the Lake County Jail as well if it continues.
Court reporters are mandated by law to be present during felony cases and child custody cases, and are made available when possible for civil cases.
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