Court Revenue Issues for Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001:
Comptroller of Public Accounts Revenue Estimate
The Comptroller of Public Accounts has estimated the following court-generated revenue
amounts for fiscal years 2000 & 2001:
| FUND | FY2000 | FY2001 |
| Fund 0001 - General Revenue Fund | ||
| 3704 Court Costs | $40,282,000 | $40,143,000 |
| 3710 Contempt of Court Fines | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| 3801 Time Payment Plan - Court Costs/Fees | $6,768,000 | $6,945,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $47,055,000 | $47,093,000 |
| Fund 0099 - Operators And Chauffeurs License Fund | ||
| 3704 Court Costs | $20,300,000 | $20,950,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $20,300,000 | $20,950,000 |
| Fund 0107 - Comprehensive Rehabilitation Fund | ||
| 3713 Fees from Misdemeanor or Felony Cases | $9,900,000 | $10,300,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $9,900,000 | $10,300,000 |
| Fund 0116 - Law Enforcement Officer Standards And Education Fund | ||
| 3712 Fees From Criminal Offenses | $9,102,000 | $9,408,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $9,102,000 | $9,408,000 |
| Fund 0421 - Criminal Justice Planning Fund | ||
| 3713 Fees from Misdemeanor or Felony Cases | $22,800,000 | $23,600,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $22,800,000 | $23,600,000 |
| Fund 0469 - Compensation To Victims Of Crime Fund | ||
| 3713 Fees from Misdemeanor or Felony Cases | $64,017,000 | $66,227,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $64,017,000 | $66,227,000 |
| Fund 0540 - Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund | ||
| 3711 Judicial Fees | $211,000 | $211,000 |
| 3712 Fees From Criminal Offenses | $4,164,000 | $4,267,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $4,375,000 | $4,478,000 |
| Fund 0573 - Judicial Fund | ||
| 3704 Court Costs | $7,600 | $7,700 |
| 3709 District Court Suit Filing Fee | $10,871,000 | $10,846,000 |
| 3711 Judicial Fees | $320,000 | $320,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $11,198,600 | $11,173,700 |
| Fund 0581 - Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute | ||
| 3712 Fees From Criminal Offense | $3,809,000 | $3,936,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $3,809,000 | $3,936,000 |
| Fund 5011 - Abused Children's Counseling Fund | ||
| 3713 Fees from Misdemeanor or Felony Cases | $16,000 | $16,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $16,000 | $16,000 |
| Fund 5012 - Crime Stoppers Assistance Fund | ||
| 3721 Court Cost\Crime Stoppers Assistance | $460,000 | $470,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $460,000 | $470,000 |
| Fund 5013 - Breath Alcohol Testing Fund | ||
| 3704 Court Costs | $1,002,000 | $1,035,000 |
| SUBTOTAL | $1,002,000 | $1,035,000 |
| TOTAL | $194,034,600 | $198,686,700 |
Court Revenue Issues for Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001
Estimated Amount of Uncollected Court Costs, Fees, and Fines in Criminal Cases for
State Fiscal Year 1997
Approximately two-thirds of all state court cost and fee revenue in criminal cases is generated by municipal courts. Justice, county, district, and appellate courts account for the other one-third. Municipal and justice courts combined account for approximately 85% of the total.
State revenues from court costs and fees in criminal cases in fiscal 1997 was approximately $141,000,000. Although the amount of local revenues from court costs, fees, and fines in criminal cases is unknown, the total exceeds the state amount.
It is estimated that uncollected revenues (both state and local) from criminal cases in state fiscal 1997 (just one year) was in excess of $100,000,000 (see below). This is a conservative figure because: (1) the estimate is based on the Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund court cost. It is the easiest to administer of all the state court costs and fees, and as a result, the collection rate for this court cost is higher than the rate for other costs, fees, and fines. (2) the percentage estimated to be satisfied through community service and jail time was 15% - which is probably high considering approximately 85% of state court cost and fee revenues are generated by municipal and justice courts where defendants are more likely to pay; and (3) although the actual amount is unknown, local court costs, fees, and fines are more than state court costs and fees. Total revenues from municipal and justice courts reported to the Office of Court Administration for state fiscal 1997 exceeded $465,000,000. The overall collection rate for all court costs, fees, and fines is probably in the 60 - 65% range, which would make the uncollected amount for state fiscal 1997 probably closer to $150,000,000.
ESTIMATE (based on data from state fiscal 1997)
A. Collection Rate Scenario Utilizing the Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund
| Approximate number of cases the fee applied to Multiplied by the court cost amount Estimated total if full amount paid State share of 90% (cities and counties retain 10%) Actual state revenue Estimated collection percentage ($3,945,680 ÷ $5,441,686) |
6,046,318 |
B. Statewide Estimate Utilizing Scenario A. Above
| Total state revenues from all court costs and fees in criminal cases Estimated total state revenues from all court costs and fees in criminal cases if full amount paid (141,014,949 ÷ 72.51%) Estimated gross uncollected revenues from state court costs and fees (194,476,554 - 141,014,949) ÷ (90%) Less estimated amount satisfied via jail and community service credits (59,401,783) (15%) Net estimated uncollected revenues from state court costs and fees (59,401,783 - 8,910,267) Estimated amount of uncollected local court costs, fees, and fines -which at a minimum should equal uncollected revenues from state court costs and fees Total estimated (state and local) uncollected court costs, fees, and fines from criminal cases in state fiscal 1997 |
$141,014,949 194,476,554 59,401,783 - 8,910,267 50,491,516 50,491,516 $100,983,032 |
Compiled by Rene Henry, Office of Court Administration