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Fiscal Management Resources


Court Equity Fund (MCL 600.151b)

The Court Equity Fund was established in October 1996 to provide limited funding for trial court operations. The fund is disbursed quarterly within the state fiscal year to county governments, based on a statutory formula that establishes each county's share. The formula includes two factors: the caseload activity of the circuit and probate courts and the number of judgeships in each county. The first factor, caseload, takes into account new cases filed for the most recent three years in the circuit and probate courts in the county and compares the county's proportion of these filings for the three years to the total filings for the state for the three years. The second factor compares the number of judgeships within the county to total judgeships for the entire state.

The revenue sources to the Court Equity Fund include state general fund appropriations and multiple sources of restricted revenue that originate from local trial court fees, costs, and assessments. Each payment from the fund within the state fiscal year will reflect the revenue deposits to the Court Equity Fund for the preceding quarter. Therefore, quarterly payments will vary, reflecting fluctuations in court revenues received.

Select "Court Equity Fund Payments History" to view the five most recent years of annual disbursements by county or "Court Equity Fund Current Year" to view the current annual projection by county and payments to date. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Mack at mackb@courts.mi.gov.

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Drug Case Information Management Fund (MCL 257.323d)

The Drug Case Information Management Fund was created by statute effective September 1, 1994. The fund was created to provide a source of funding for timely management and new reporting to the Secretary of State of specific cases. The case types include an attempt to violate, a conspiracy to violate, or a direct violation of the Public Health Code for drug-related offenses. Offenses can be charged under either state statute or local ordinance.

The fee to reinstate the individual's driver's license is $125, payable to the Secretary of State. Of this amount, $30 of each license suspension fee for a drug-related conviction is deposited by the Secretary of State into the Drug Case Information Management Fund.

Revenue deposited to the Drug Case Information Management Fund is dependent upon the number of new drug-related convictions that carry the license suspension, and the payment of the $125 fee to the Secretary of State to remove their license from suspension status.

The State Court Administrative Office is responsible for the annual distribution of the fund to circuit and district courts. Each court receives a proportion of the fund based upon its drug-related caseload and the statewide caseload for each calendar year. The fund is distributed each year for the previous year's fund revenue based on the previous year's trial court caseload.

Examples of the manner in which funds have been allocated locally include:

  • Staff positions - clerical support
  • Equipment - computers and technology enhancements
  • Training - new or existing staff for reporting requirements and electronic systems reporting.
Revenue received from the Drug Case Information Management Fund should be deposited to a revenue account set up within the State Grants section (539-579) of the local Uniform Chart of Accounts.

Select "Drug Case Information Management Fund Payment History" to view the preceding five years of annual payments, or "Drug Case Information Management Fund Current Year" to view the most recent year's payment. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Mack by e-mail at mackb@courts.mi.gov or by telephone at 517-373-5596.

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Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund (MCL 257.625h)

The Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund was created by statute effective January 1, 1992. The fund was created to provide a source of funding for implementation of new case processing time guidelines which would promote the timely disposition of cases in which the defendant was charged with a qualifying drunk driving offense. Offenses can be charged under either state statute or local ordinance.

The timeline instituted for these cases is as follows:

  • Arraignment to be processed within 14 days of arrest
  • Pretrial to commence within 35 days after arrest, or 42 days in single-judge, multi-location courts
  • Adjudication of the case to be within 77 days after arrest
The cases that qualify for this timeline are all OUIL-related offenses (Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Liquor) where the vehicle is a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or boat.

At the same time the new case processing times were established, the Driver's License Reinstatement Fee, payable to the Secretary of State, was raised from $60 to $125. Of the new, higher fee, $30 of each license suspension for an OUIL-related offense is deposited by the Secretary of State into the Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund.

Revenue deposited to the Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund is dependent upon the number of new OUIL-related offenses filed that carry the license suspension, and payments by the individuals of the $125 fee to the Secretary of State to remove their licenses from suspension status.

Annually, each district and municipal court receives a proportion of the fund based upon its OUIL-related caseload and that of the statewide caseload for each calendar year. The fund is distributed each year for the previous year's fund revenue and the previous year's trial court caseload.

Examples of the manner in which funds have been allocated locally include:
  • Staff positions - magistrate, clerical support, probation, or alcohol screening officer
  • Equipment - computers and technology enhancements, vehicles for intensive probation, preliminary breath bests (PBTs), alcohol screening and/or assessment materials
  • Training - substance abuse causes and treatments, probation officers
Revenue received from the Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund should be deposited to a revenue account set up within the State Grants section (539-579) of the local Uniform Chart of Accounts.

Select "Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund Payment History" to view the preceding five years of annual payments or "Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund Current Year" to view the most recent year's payment. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Mack by e-mail at mackb@courts.mi.gov or by telephone at 517-373-5596. For additional information about the Drunk Driving Caseflow Assistance Fund, see SCAO Administrative Memorandum 1999-06 or Treasury Numbered Letter #99-4.

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Judicial Technology Improvement Fund

In state fiscal year 2005, payments totaling $1 million were distributed to counties from the Judicial Technology Improvement Fund to be used for local court technology needs. Questions about these payments should be directed to Rebecca Mack at mackb@courts.mi.gov or 517-373-5596.
  • Judicial Technolgy Fund Disbursement, State Fiscal Year 2005

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    Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund (MCL 600.151d & e)

    The Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund was created as of January 1, 2003, to provide a source of reimbursement funding to trial courts for legislated increases in juror attendance compensation. Beginning October 1, 2003, jurors were compensated at new, higher rates (see MCL 600.1344) and trial court funding units can claim reimbursement biannually from the fund for the increased expense. Claims are requested in the months of April and October each year and are submitted into a web-based application at the Michigan Court Application Portal (MCAP). Disbursements from the fund are made by June 1st and December 1st each year. If total claims exceed the funds available in the Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund, claims will be prorated.

    The Juror Compensation Reimbursement System will be open from April 1, 2008, through April 30, 2008, to receive reportable juror data for the period October 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008. Checks will be issued by June 1, 2008. Access the Michigan Court Application Portal (MCAP) for the jury system at http://courts.mi.gov/mcap. For questions regarding reimbursement or the reporting system, please contact Rebecca Mack at 517-373-5596. To obtain access and/or passwords, court administrators should log in to MCAP-User Maintenance. If further assistance with MCAP is required, please call 517-373-5538.

    Select the current or historical claim periods below to view payments by trial court funding unit. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Mack by e-mail at mackb@courts.mi.gov or by telephone at 517-373-5596.

  • Reimbursement Period April 1, 2007 - September 30, 2007
  • Reimbursement Period October 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007
  • Reimbursement Period April 1, 2006 - September 30, 2006
  • Reimbursement Period October 1, 2005 - March 31, 2006
  • Reimbursement Period April 1, 2005 - September 30, 2005
  • Reimbursement Period October 1, 2004 - March 31, 2005
  • Reimbursement Period April 1, 2004 - September 30, 2004
  • Reimbursement Period October 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004

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