Present: Chief Justice VandeWalle, Presiding Judges Backes, Christofferson, Graff, Holte, Schmalenberger, Paulson, Jahnke.
Others: State Court Administrator Staff Nelson, Thielges; Trial Court Staff Gladden, Wallace.
Chief Justice VandeWalle called the meeting to order at 8:25 a.m. Greg Wallace discussed the revised formula recently e-mailed to members of the Council of Presiding Judges. The revised formula is based on average population, caseload and assignments and uses projected budget data based on actual expenditures. Judge Graff moved that the revised formula be adopted. Judge Backes seconded the motion. Judge Schmalenberger expressed concern with the tight funding in his district. His small district will be significantly impacted if one big case occurs. Small districts don't have the budget flexibility that large districts have. Judge Paulson suggested the problem could be resolved with a budget hold back. Chief Justice VandeWalle agreed that a hold back is a good idea, but probably not necessary in that other operating line amounts can accomplish the same objective. Upon vote, this motion was carried. A copy of the formula is attached to these minutes. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
| District | % of Ave. Pop. Caseload & Assign. | 1997-99 Indigent Defense Budget Amount % | 1999-2001 Indigent Defense Budget Amount % | % Increase from 1997-99 to 1999-2001 | Projected Hourly Rate | ||
| Northwest | 12.8 | $381,766 | 11.7 | $419,643 | 12.3 | .07 | $60-$63 |
| Northeast | 12.6 | $399,017 | 12.2 | $404,759 | 12.3 | .03 | $61-$65 |
| Northeast Central | 13.4 | $374,004 | 11.5 | $404,634 | 12.3 | .08 | $61-$64 |
| East Central | 22.4 | $622,076 | 19.1 | $688,738 | 20.2 | .11 | $53-$55 |
| Southeast | 13.4 | $435,121 | 13.3 | $452,233 | 13.3 | .04 | $60-$63 |
| South Central | 20.2 | $824,763 | 25.3 | $824,763 | 24.3 | .00 | $56-$62 |
| Southwest | 5.1 | $228,503 | 7.0 | $214,713 | 6.3 | .00 | $99 |
| TOTAL | 100.0 | $3,265,250 | 100.0 | $3,409,483 | 100.0 | .04 | |