Proposal calls for merging 2 courts
The town and village are looking at the potential cost benefits of merging their municipal courts.
A report from the LaBerge Group, discussed by the Town Board during a Monday meeting, found the consolidation could reduce costs by more than $26,000 per year, consultant Kathleen Rooney said.
“The number of court sessions could be collapsed over the course of the year,” Rooney said.
“There are a significant number of tasks and reports that the court staff have to provide on a daily, monthly, annual basis that you’re doing at the town level and you’re doing at the village level,” she said. “If there was a consolidated court, while the volume of activity within those reports
would be increased, you’d be clearly cutting the number of reports you have to do in half.”
Under the proposed merger, the Village Court would be absorbed into the Town Court, and all cases would be heard in the town municipal building at 80 E. Market St.
The Village Court is in the nearby village municipal building — at 76 E. Market St., across Center Street from the town building — and it’s common for those who have business with one of the two courts to go to the wrong place.
“It resulted in a number of missed court dates just caused by nothing but the similarity in name and the proximity of the two courts,” Rooney said.
In 2019, the Village Court handled 1,539 cases, with estimated total expenses of about $94,000 and estimated revenues of $50,000. The Town Court handled 1,880 cases, at an estimated cost of $111,400 and estimated revenue of $97,500.
The consolidation plan estimates combined expenses of about $179,000 and revenue of about $145,000, potentially reducing the village property tax rate by 1.9% and increasing the town rate by 0.7%.
The Town Court has two justices. The Village Court has one full-time and onepart-time justice. The consolidation plan calls for a total of two justices but notes that court session could last longer.
Rooney said the consolidation would result in considerable savings in security costs.
“To make those investments twice is very expensive for a small to mediumsized court,” she said. “But when you combine them, it’s relatively less expensive to make some of those improvements.”
Also, Rooney said, “we believe that with consolidated staff in one location, it provides for an ability to have enhanced office coverage and then also backup coverage for staff when they’re out,” Rooney said.
The Village Board is to review the consolidation plan when it meets Oct. 13.
Under state law, a village government can vote to dissolve its court, but a public petition could force a public referendum on the issue.