Madison, WI – Today, Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Reps. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha), Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac), Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield), and Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz) released a bill that would adjust court fees to meet inflation and allow counties to keep the increase to help fund the courts.
Many of our court fees were introduced in the 1980s and have never been adjusted for inflation. In the same time period, a Big Mac has gone from $1.35 in 1985 to $5.99 today, a 443% increase.
“We have been asking our courts to do the same job but with funding that has not kept up with the increased costs due to inflation,” said Sen. Wanggaard. “This bill brings court fees more in line with actual costs and sets us up in the future to not have another 40-year delay.”
The bill also adds a 5-year escalator clause tied to the Consumer Price Index.
“We need to make sure that these fees remain relevant to current dollar values over time,” stated Rep. O’Connor. “Otherwise our courts will face shortages again down the road.”
Another benefit of the bill is that it would allow counties to keep a greater share of the fees that they collect for the services that they render.
“This is long overdue,” said Rep. Donovan. “I am pleased to support common sense legislation that ensures our courts can be efficient with the modern day demand.”
“Administering justice costs money,” said Rep. Allen. “Those doing the work should benefit from the fees collected. It’s time to make sure our county courts are property funded.”
