After five years of running deficits, Connecticut's down-sized probate system has reported a new budget that projects returning a modest $3 million to state government 12 months from now.
The $30.4 million plan reported to the General Assembly and Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week marks the first budget reflecting the dramatic consolidation ordered last year to reverse financial woes plaguing the probate system.
"One of the great benefits of the restructuring is it will give far greater stability to the system," said Judge Paul J. Knierim of Simsbury, the probate court administrator. The plan reduces 117 court districts to 54, starting Jan. 1.
Though the consolidation is the highlight of the new budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, the system, which spent about $37 million last fiscal year, has undertaken several steps to end its run of deficits, Knierim said.
Connecticut's probate court judges froze salaries for themselves and their staffs voluntarily last year. And under the consolidation ordered by the legislature, judges' salaries now are based on their caseloads, capped at 75 percent of the annual pay of a Superior Court judge. Based on current rates, top pay for a probate judge now is $110,085.
Knierim's office has frozen two vacant positions, and cut data processing, maintenance and mileage reimbursement accounts.
The new probate court budget is supported with nearly $12.5 million from the state's general fund, including a first-ever allocation of $8.75 million for general operating costs.
Knierim said it's too soon to tell whether the probate courts will be self-sustaining in the long-term under the new system. But with a $3 million surplus projected for 2010-11, and early estimates for $2.8 million in savings just from court consolidation alone in 2011-12, the potential is there to reduce the need for general fund dollars down the road.
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Probate Courts Project First Budge Surplus in Five Years
Thank you, Judge Knierim.
ReplyDeleteNow please get to work cleaning up the corruption in probate courts.
Looks like CT Probate is attempting to clean things up. Time will tell how serious they are/were.
ReplyDeleteConnecticut Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim Allows 14th Amendment rights violations,he had and has power to remove Connecticut Probate Judges, but fails to use it, instead he rather see a persons 14th amendment be violated. Why???? This is amazing!!! Why on earth would Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim have a very cozy relationship with Judge Meccariello and the rest of the Probate Court Assembly? And people wonder why Knierim is not willing to help them. We need to lobby for a separation. Does anyone actually know what the Probate Court Administration does? If you want to email the Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim or Chief Counsel, Thomas E. Gaffey please see emails below. Judge Paul Knierim ; c/o susan.a.dornfried@ct.gov Attorney Thomas E. Gaffey; c/o dianna.orvis@ct.gov Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim and Southington probate judge Bryan F. Meccariello serve on the ethics committee together and we wonder why nothing was done. Fact: While Judge Knierim and Southington probate judge Bryan F. Meccariello were together presenting the Seminar on Campaign Ethics, Disqualification, and Extra-judicial Private Practice Activities Presented by the Ethics Committee on January 12, 2010. Sam Manzo was being denied his 14th Amendment right by Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim presentation partner and fellow ethics committee member Southington probate judge Bryan F. Meccariello , you know the one “ No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.” Sam Manzo a man of very little means reached out to Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim on July 31,2009 and again on August 3,2009 and complained to Probate Court Administrator Judge Paul Knierim about his fellow ethics committee member Southington probate judge Bryan F. Meccariello and his response went something like this. “if your client disagrees with the courts ruling, he has a right to appeal to the superior court”. Maybe superior court is where probate belongs then we would not have to worry about filing appeals. www.myctprobate.com
ReplyDeleteHow much of this surplus is made off the backs of conservatorship wards in the way of court fees?
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