The Lucas County Common Pleas Court’s budget request has been narrowed to a 2.8 percent increase during the midst of recent disputes with county commissioners.
Lucas County commissioners initially believed the court submitted a 2025 budget forecast that constituted a 6.8 percent increase, well above the commissioners’ desire to keep county budgets flat for next year. But after extensive discussions between commissioners’ budget staff and the court, it was determined that the amount was actually less than half of that.
Much of that has to do with how electronic monitoring costs are paid.
County commissioners this year have been holding public hearings on the budget to be more transparent. As department officials have presented their proposed budgets for next year at the end of county commissioner meetings every Tuesday, only the court of common pleas and its domestic relations division have declined, saying it is inappropriate to do so. Court officials cite an independent constitutional ability to run their own operation.