County Adds Judge To Keep Up With Arrests Addition Of Superior Court Judge Made To Tight 1997 Budget

Like a homeowner buying new furniture to match new wallpaper, Spokane County commissioners agreed Thursday to add a new judge to keep up with arrests made by new deputies.

Saying they’ll come up with the money somehow, commissioners agreed to add the 11th Superior Court judge to a tight 1997 budget.

“We may even have to have a little reduction” in the county work force, said Commissioner Phil Harris.

Start-up costs for an additional judge could top $1 million, as county departments are shuffled out of the courthouse and into other buildings to make room for another judge, bailiff and court clerk.

The state will chip in about $60,000 a year - half the judge’s salary and benefits.

The judge won’t start until July 1, partly to save money on salaries and partly so the county can make preparations.

For Harris, a conservative Republican, the delay may have the added benefit of denying outgoing Gov. Mike Lowry, a liberal Democrat, the opportunity to appoint the judge. Lowry’s replacement takes office in January.

“I like Mike, but I don’t like some of the people he appoints,” said Harris.

The choice may be Lowry’s regardless.

Commissioners must pass a resolution this year authorizing the judge, or the state’s share of the money won’t be part of the 1997 budget. Whether that resolution can be worded to delay an appointment is unclear, said Martin Munguia, Lowry’s deputy press secretary.

“The easy answer is, we don’t know,” Munguia said.

The decision to add a judge shows how dipping into the county’s bank account once can force commissioners to do it again and again.

Commissioners started the year by giving Sheriff John Goldman money to hire 10 new deputies so he could cut overtime. That led to more arrests.

The commissioners gave the prosecutor more money so he wouldn’t have to release the people the new deputies arrested. Then they gave the public defender money to keep up with the prosecutor.

“We just can’t keep up,” said Judge Robert Austin.

, DataTimes