Medina County Court

Monterey County faces $1.3 million in cuts to superior court

Like other counties across the state, Monterey County's superior court isn't immune to the repercussions of the millions of dollars in cuts the state has ordered.

Nona Medina, spokeswoman for the Monterey County Superior Court, said Wednesday that state analysts have predicted $1.3 million in cuts to the local court's 2011-12 fiscal year operating budget, which now stands at $17.1 million.

Medina said the court was notified about a month ago about the potential cuts, but was uncertain until recently to how it would affect individual courts.

On Friday, judicial branch leaders divvied up $350 million in cuts throughout the branch. The cuts came from Sacramento lawmakers reducing by more than 10 percent the courts' $3 billion budget to close California's record deficit.

Medina said the cuts range between $1.2 million to $1.7 million.

Union representatives will meet with Monterey County Superior Court managers soon in order to work out a compromise for its 165 workers. Workers affected are in positions such as clerks, clerical assistants and interpreters.

Khanh T. Weinberg, communications director for the Service Employees International Union Local 521, confirmed Wednesday that union leaders will be meeting with Monterey County Superior Court representatives to begin talks.

Weinberg said no specific date has been set, however, and declined to speculate on how the negotiations will turn out.

"The bottom line is we will be doing whatever we can to preserve public services," she said.

Medina said it's too early to say how the contract negotiations will pan out and what will be done to close the budget deficit. One way to cut costs, she said, is reduced court hours.

"Court remains very committed to saving positions," Medina said.

The upcoming cuts add to the court's budgetary woes that stretch back at least three years. Besides the potential $1.3 million in budget losses, Medina said, the court has slashed about $2.7 million the previous three fiscal years.

In September 2009, she said, courts were furloughed a day each month after special legislation passed mandating the move. While it ended in June 2010, Medina said, Monterey County Superior Court continued rotating furloughs for its employees.

Medina said these furloughs, where courts remain open but employees take an unpaid day off each month, are scheduled until the end of September.

Of the counties, San Francisco seems to have taken the hardest hit.

Medina County Court Log for July 26, 2011 « The Medina County ...

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• Daniel Ellison, 31, of Tallmadge Road in Cuyahoga Falls, was sentenced to three years of community control sanctions, with 180 days in jail, on one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony.

• Allen Sams, 24, of Lucy Street in Akron, was sentenced to three years of community control sanctions on one count of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony.

• Brandy Braham, 29, of Essex Avenue in Akron, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 14.

• Steven Combs, 46, of Wade Avenue in Cleveland, pleaded not guilty to one count of arson, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 13.

• James Kaley, 29, of Industry Drive in Atwater, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 13.

• Jeffrey Lang, 18, of Pioneer Way Drive in Medina, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 21.

• Matthew Myers, 39, of Greenwich Road in Homer Township, pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with a police officer, a third-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 20.

• Michelle Picknell, 39, of Lowmiller Road in Minerva, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 21.

• Roger Picknell, 53, of Lowmiller Road in Minerva, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 19.

• Dale Prater Jr., 38, of Whychwood Drive in Akron, pleaded to not guilty one count of illegal manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 20.

• Jordan Williams, 22, of Avery Road in Peebles, Ohio, pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery, both of which are third-degree felonies. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 19.

The following people appeared in court Monday :