Camas is considering operating its own municipal court as a potential strategy to boost the bottom line.
Larry Linne, a Camas court security officer, has presented a proposal to Camas councilors that, if approved, would give the city its own court system independent of Clark County District Court.
For at least the past 17 years, Camas and Washougal have contracted with District Court to provide staff, including a judge, to oversee the Camas-Washougal Municipal Court. The municipal court handles misdemeanor offenses and traffic infractions.
Linne said Wednesday that if Camas operated its own municipal court, it could save around $100,000 a year by no longer paying county employees and also by generating its own revenue.
The city council asked Linne to conduct more-detailed fiscal research to be reviewed at a laterdate.
Camas may not be the only city considering a separation. Linne plans to present a similar proposal to the Washougal City Council in two weeks.
“The biggest thing they’re looking at is the economic side of it,” Linne said of the Camas proposal.
The joint municipal court currently operates at 89 C St. in Washougal. Clark County District Court judges take turns presiding.
The independent court or courts would be like Battle Ground’s municipal court.
The most dramatic change under the proposal would be replacing county employees — including the judge, court administrator, clerk and judicial assistant — with city employees. The city likely wouldn’t have to elect a judge because state law allows judicial officers who work less than 35 hours a week to be appointed, Linne said.
Another change that would come under the proposal: District Court would no longer have access to case information for the Camas court and would not be able to receive payments from the public. All business would be operated at the east county office.
Clark County Administrator Bill Barron said Camas’ proposed court would have little financial impact on the county’s District Court.
That’s because the county makes little profit from revenue in Camas, and the city’s payments go directly to fund the services the city receives.
“It has no revenue impact on us at all. If any, it would be minimal,” Barron said. “The real issue is the management of the court process.”
District Court Judge John Hagensen agreed and asked whether the proposal would cut into other important services there, such as probation.
“The only way they can save money is to cut probation,” he said. “They can’t get a judge and staff any cheaper” than through the county.
If approved, the new court system wouldn’t be up and running until at least 2014.
Laura McVicker: http://twitter.com/col_courts; http://facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.
