TOLEDO, OHIO -- Toledo's municipal court system has agreed to take their proposed $8.3 million budget and chop it up a bit in order to shrink the city's daunting $48 million budget deficit.
“It's a step in the right direction,” said Michael Collins, Toledo City Council member.
The courts have agreed to not fill ten vacant or soon to be vacant positions. That includes three probation officers, one human resources officer, three civil bailiffs, a court reporter and a magistrate.
Presiding judge Timothy C. Kuhlman says these givebacks amount to about $1.4 million, a huge sacrifice for the courts. “We're leaving ten positions out of 91 positions in the court open and I'm hoping that that gives them something to work with to balance the budget,” said Kuhlman.
He promises it will be temporary though, saying he’ll do what he can to make sure the budgets and staffing levels return to normal after the current cash crisis is resolved.
Council members are happy with the court's help in the city's time of need. “It's a huge commitment and I respect that commitment and I'm very appreciative of it as the committee chair,” said Collins. That's $1.4 million down, with only about $46.8 million to go.
Toledo City Council has until March 31 to approve a balanced budget.
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