Courts Fines and Fees: An Unstable Revenue Source for Florida
The Government Committee Recommends a webinar that could not be timed better, two days before the Manatee Clerk of Courts speaks on Saturday.
The collection of court fines and fees, which fluctuates with economic disruptions, natural disasters, and policy changes at other state agencies, is an unstable revenue source for Florida’s clerks of courts. Unfortunately, at the state level, Florida’s revenue collections are dependent on sales taxes and policymakers have opted to cut other revenue streams, while also neglecting long-term revenue-raising solutions. This makes it difficult to fund Florida’s clerks of courts. This revenue structure harms Florida’s clerks of courts and perpetuates a system wherein the courts rely on traffic citations, which disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities.
Tachana Joseph-Marc and Dr. Esteban Leonardo Santis, policy analysts at Florida Policy Institute, will explore how lawmakers have approached raising revenue over the years, help participants gain an understanding of how this impacts the clerks of courts’ funding model, and discuss revenue-raising solutions for the state and its courts.
