'Tis the budgeting season.

Byline: Jack Zemlicka

At this time of year there are two tasks which require stamina, savvy and sanity --holiday shopping and the state budget. Both are likely to generate headaches and leave someone disappointed, but Director of State Courts A. John Voelker is doing his best to fill county courts' stockings with the state funds they need. Voelker recently submitted the biennial request for funding of the circuit courts, court of appeals and Supreme Court to the Legislature and Gov. Jim Doyle. Forced to be financially conservative in court requests for much of this decade because of limited dollars state-wide, Voelker said, he and Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson opted for a more aggressive outlook to 2007-09. "The last few years we were forced to maintain the resources with the statewide crunch, but we needed to look to infuse more resources back into the court system," said Voelker. "I know budget time is always a struggle for clerk of courts, judges and other staff on every level." Court Pleas Annually, circuit court systems plead for more state funding of county operations and Voelker hopes this year's proposal will strengthen the relationship between state and local court operations. "The question is always, how much should the state pick up, and the strain is being felt more each year," said Voelker who pointed to the excessive court cuts proposed in Milwaukee County in the last two budgets. While six budget requests were submitted for review, the primary proposal involves a revamping of the financial assistance program for county courts. "We looked at the current system and realized we could clean up the way we provide assistance to other counties," said Voelker. Currently, the state relies on two formulas for financial allocation to county court operations and guardian ad litem programs. The former systems would be dissolved...