The Iowa Judicial Branch is an independent branch of government, but it is the legislative branch that determines the judicial branch budget for each fiscal year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30 the following year. State Court Administrator, Bob Gast, gathers information from each district and department to determine the needs of the judicial branch. He then proposes a budget to the Iowa Supreme Court, that then decides on what to include in the budget submission to the governor and legislature. Once it is in the hands of the legislature, Caitlin Jarzen, Director of Governmental Relations, works closely with the legislature to monitor the progress of the budget bill as it works its way through the House and Senate.
After deliberations and debates, the legislature’s version of the budget bill is sent to the governor for signature, although the governor holds the power to line item veto portions of the bill.
When the judicial branch receives the final version of the budget bill, state court administration and the supreme court will assess the funding in comparison to the initial budget proposal and allocate the funds to priorities at a level that fits within the parameters of the legislature’s appropriation.
The FY 23 budget request initially sent to the legislature requested an increase of $12,828,643 over the branch’s FY 22 budget. This requested increase included funding for:
- 5.9% judicial salary increase
- 1.1% across the board increase for employees
- 3% step increase for employees
- 3% across the board increase to match the 3% increase given by the executive branch to its non-contract employees.
The legislature passed the branch’s budget with an increase of $460,000 over the FY 22 budget, a 1% increase. Due to the judge’s retirement fund being fully funded, a savings of $4.9 million dollars was added to the judicial branch’s operating budget. In total, the FY 23 judicial branch budget has an increase of $5,360,298 in discretionary spending, which is less than the $12,828,643 requested increase.
While the FY 23 budget is higher than the FY 22 budget, it is not enough to fund all the budget priorities. The FY 23 budget allows the branch to maintain its current staffing levels while offering modest salary increases. The Iowa Supreme Court approved a 1.1% across the board salary increase for all employees, other than judges, and a 2% step increase for all eligible employees. The legislature approved a 2% salary increase for judicial officers as well.
You can find more information on the FY 23 budget here.
In a couple of months, the process begins for the development of the FY 24 judicial branch budget.