Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans announced today that the Honorable Robert Colombo, Jr., Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court, has committed the Court to a five percent reduction in the Court’s appropriation from Wayne County’s General Fund. The reduction saves the County approximately $2.6 million per year from the County’s General Fund.
Executive Evans’ released his Recovery Plan last week outlining solid solutions to eliminate the County’s $52 million deficit. In the plan, Mr. Evans asks for all stakeholders to share in the sacrifice to stabilize the County and return it to firm financial footing. Specifically, it asks almost all County employees, including Court employees to take a 5% salary reduction. Mr. Evans and The Plan also offered and encouraged stakeholders to provide additional or different ideas to reduce the County’s structural deficit.
Chief Judge Colombo committed to a five percent reduction but chose to take it from his budgeted appropriation in a manner that better suited the efficient operation of the court. With these changes and increased use of technology, the Court affected structural savings. “We appreciate Judge Colombo’s thoughtfulness and creativity in committing to the 5 percent reduction in a way that works better for the Court”, said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “His leadership is the kind the County needs to pull out of this financial crisis.”
“We understand the difficult financial problems the County faces”, Judge Colombo said. “We are a separate branch of government but recognize our funding by the County makes us a stakeholder in the County’s financial health. A reduction in our budget was the best approach for the Court and we look for all stakeholders to find creative ways to help the County bounce back financially.”
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