Inyo County Court Executive Officer Tammy Grimm reported to the Inyo Supervisors this week that state budget money problems have become Inyo’s problems. She said that court construction funds have instead paid for operation of the courts due to budget shortfalls. Inyo’s anticipated $30 million court building will likely not happen, and Ms. Grimm added that the State raided Inyo’s locally held court funding that would have paid for a small facility in Independence.
The Inyo Supervisors have been inclined to support Inyo’s court projects, but Ms. Grimm said that the Governor’s final budget directed that “any court with money in bank accounts or savings must use it to help absorb $235 million of the State’s deficit.” This included $1.5 million that the Inyo Court saved to help build the Independence court facility next to the jail.
The executive court officer said she and the judges have fought against the loss of local funds and the loss of the larger project with letters and personal appearances before the Judicial Council. Judge Brian Lamb and Ms. Grimm will make a presentation before the Judicial Council Facilities working group on September 3 in support of the bond-funded $30 million project for Bishop.
Grimm had asked the Inyo Supervisors for a letter of support in this matter. Grimm acknowledged that many citizens were not pleased with the decision to place the new courthouse in Bishop, but she said the County needs new court facilities.
State legislators have taken the position that funds for operations trump spending money on new buildings.
“This included $1.5 million that the Inyo Court saved to help build the Independence court facility next to the jail.”
Not only renege on the new court house in Bishop but steal are savings. WOW
Hello wake up America! We cant keep propping up this broken system! We use, waste and consume so much its ridiculous. Now everybody feels we are entitled to all the comfort and convenience that is out there. I am glad they put a stop to the new building. Inyo County… Read more »
Thirty Million Dollars for a court house in a county with just 2 Judges still seems like overkill. Besides the fact that Inyo County all ready has two court houses. Their are less than 70 people in Inyo county jail right now. I don’t see the need.
Well .. it’s hard times .. the state will grab any cash it can .. with extra … double taxation of fire protection, and raiding local govts. cash accounts. As much as it might be nice to have new court facilities, times are tough, and it is just not so… Read more »
Yeah times are tough but all the influencing officials and law makers are far from tough times and don’t see the tough time perspective that a majority of us see. It will never be justifiable here unless the county has its own capital, other then that tax payers shouldn’t flip… Read more »
Doesn’t building that new building create jobs?
taxpayer- it does create jobs, but temporary jobs only. In the long run it will likely mean less permeant jobs and more vacant buildings. Some contractor and city council member are likely to walk away rich and a the other consolidated working folks end up poorer. Wake up, we have… Read more »
Beware when an elected official is a developer.
Yeah Jeremiah,
They need that new building so they can use it to bust down the kids and the community, that way they can increase their revenue and justify such a large law enforcement presence for such a small population. LOL. Oops except its too true to be funny!
hOW DOES IT FEEL iNYO county ‘yOU JUST GOT ROBBED’..
NOW you know how the taxpayers FEEL
GGW
Up the creek- I’m just thankful I don’t have to live in our next ghost town.
Are you talking about Bridgeport?
Yeah…we all know you pay taxes.