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EAST LIVERPOOL --The closing of the East Liverpool Municipal Court one year ago has proven to be a cost savings to the city, and an inconvenience to the residents and police department.
The court did not generate enough revenue to be self-supporting. The city's general fund provided the additional funding needed by the cost to cover operating expenses.
In 2020, when the court was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court's total revenue was $87,519.86, and the total operating cost was $285,639.20 creating a deficit of $198,119.34 to be paid out of the general fund. In 2021, revenue was $130,114.62 with operating costs of $287,174.78, creating a deficit of $157,060.16. In 2022, when the court closed, court revenue was $75,790.93 with operating cost of $256,031.52 creating a deficit of $180,240.59 paid for from the general fund.
The court showed no revenue in 2023 since it was closed in 2022, did have some operating costs in the amount of $27,617.54 which was paid out of the general fund.
East Liverpool Auditor Marilyn Bosco noted that there is no way to have an exact figure of how much since other costs such as utilities cannot be determined since the meters are not separated by department and the non-general fund revenue such as the maintenance fee revenue paid for the phone and copiers expenses.
Bosco said the relocation has saved the city money but has now caused an inconvenience for the residents and police officers who now have to go to Lisbon for court and that is important.
Police Chief John Layne said when the court was still in East Liverpool and officers had to go to court they were still in the city, and they just went upstairs from the police department. Now when an officer goes to court, he is all the way out in Lisbon for hours, which often leaves just one officer on duty in the city.
"It's definitely a strain," Layne said. "It's certainly an extra expense as far as covering an officer's time. When it was downtown, it was in the contract for two hours, but now that it's out there it's four. It just doubled any of the pay for paying the officers to be there plus the wear and tear on the cars and the gas. Gas certainly isn't cheap."
In 2020, the cost for court pay for officers for the whole year was a little over $7,000, according to Bosco. So far in 2023, year to date total is over $8,000 and that figure will increase by year end.
Layne said the extra pay isn't having a major impact on the department's budget since they are short staffed to begin with. Four years ago, the department had 20 officers. Now there are 11 --still the gas budget has taken a hit.
Layne said it is what it is and it doesn't help the department having to go all the way to Lisbon especially when it seems like for most of the department's shifts, they only have two officers working.
"When you have to send one to court, send one to county or take someone to the hospital and take them to county it tough to deal with," Layne said. "You're already shorthanded so it's taking your people that you have to deal with anything and makes it hard to do what you are supposed to be doing."
Layne also added that when down to just one officer in the city, there is nothing getting done and the department is completely reactive when the numbers are low and not out digging much up.
The average number of days an officer is out of the city for court depends on the week with some weeks being busier than others. According to Layne it's an average of one to two days a week he has officers heading to Lisbon for court. But that changes during the one week each month when the grand jury convenes because officers have to testify at those.
The city can ask for assistance from the townships when needed, but Layne notes that sometimes they have their own responsibilities and don't always have available assistance.
Bosco is not aware of any plans to use the space in city hall previously occupied by the court and doesn't believe there will be any discussions on it under the current administrations which is set to change at the first of the year.
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com