Fiscal Note - SB 0008 - Juvenile Court Referees Shall Become Family Court Commissioners
L.R. NO. 0452-01
BILL NO. SB 8
SUBJECT: Courts: Salaries
TYPE: Original
DATE: January 8, 1997
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
General Revenue ($86,354) to ($106,216) to ($108,871) to
Fund ($106,037) ($130,426) ($133,687)
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All ($86,354) to ($106,216) to ($108,871) to
State Funds ($106,037) ($130,426) ($133,687)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
None
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Local Government $76,270 $94,304 $97,167
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the
proposed legislation would cause one juvenile court referee (locally created
and funded in the City of St. Louis) to become a commissioner of the family
court effective August 28, 1997. Family court commissioners are state paid
at the level of an associate circuit judge. CTS reports that if the Salary
Commission report is not rejected and is appropriated, then associate circuit
judges would earn an annual salary of up to $99,000. Currently, this
position receives an annual salary of $80,623. CTS has determined that the
direct increased costs would range from $80,623 to $99,000 plus fringe
benefits. Since this would be a conversion of an existing position, CTS
assumes there is existing support staff in place.
Based on conversations with CTS, Oversight assumes that local governments
will not create additional positions for juvenile court referees prior to the
deadline, as new positions such as this generally cannot be created after the
beginning of the fiscal year. Therefore, Oversight assumes this proposal
would create a fiscal impact with respect to the one juvenile court referee
in the City of St. Louis only, as positions created after August 28, 1997,
would require local reimbursement to CTS.
Officials from the City of St. Louis - Budget Division assume the proposed
legislation would create a local savings of $95,000 annually, as one juvenile
court referee would be transferred to state payroll as a family court
commissioner.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Cost - State Courts Administrator (CTS)
Transfer one juvenile court referee from
City of St. Louis payroll to CTS payroll
Salary (1 FTE - Juvenile Court Referee)($67,186) ($82,639) ($84,705)
to (82,500) to (101,475)to(104,012)
Fringe Benefits ($19,168) ($23,577) ($24,166)
to (23,537) to (28,951)to (29,675)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON ($86,354) ($106,216) ($108,871)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND to (106,037) to (130,426)to(133,687)
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Savings - City of St. Louis
Removal of one juvenile court referee
from local government payroll
Salary (1 FTE - Juvenile Court Referee) $69,204 $85,536 $88,102
* Fringe Benefits 7,066 8,768 9,065
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENT * $76,270 $94,304 $97,167
* Does not include effect on local government retirement system.
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of
this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This proposal would make all referees of the juvenile court become Family
Court Commissioners as of August 28, 1997. St. Louis City currently has one
such referee who would be eligible to become a commissioner. The State of
Missouri would not be reimbursed by the City of St. Louis for the salary and
benefits of the future Commissioner.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other
program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental
space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of State Courts Administrator
City of St. Louis - Budget Division
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.