PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Judicial courts in Kenton, Boone and Gallatin counties are among the beneficiaries of the nearly $13 billion, two-year state budget the Kentucky General Assembly will enact this week.
Lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on a budget adding another $4.5 million to the newly revised total cost of $31 million for the Kenton County Courthouse under construction in Covington, and about $800,000 for a new circuit court judge serving Boone and Gallatin counties.
Although House and Senate leaders spent much of Monday hammering out the final version of the budget bill, the money earmarked for Northern Kentucky courts is considered safe, lawmakers said. "I don't see any problems at all with that money," said House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green.
Boone County Circuit Court Clerk Pat Gutzeit said the growth of Boone County -- the second-fastest growing county in Kentucky, according to the U.S. Census -- has put a burden on the courts.
"Growth is definitely the problem," Ms. Gutzeit said Monday. "We've grown so fast we just can't keep up with all the cases." Currently just one judge, Circuit Judge Joseph Bamberger, serves Boone and Gallatin Counties. The $798,300 over the next two years will pay the salary and expenses of the new judge, secretary, bench clerk, law clerk, social worker and deputy clerk, according to the judicial budget bill.
The judge would be appointed by Democratic Gov. Paul Patton later this year. An exact date has not been set, but it would be sometime after the new budget goes into effect July 1.
Under a new program established by the state, the circuit judge will hear cases sent to what will be known as Family Court, where most, if not all, divorces, domestic violence cases, some juvenile matters and other cases affecting a family will be heard.
"The theory with family court is one judge will have the expertise and experience in dealing with matters of the family," Ms. Gutzeit said. "I think it's a good idea because a judge who knows a family and its problems will not only be more familiar with the family but may be in a better position to help them, or at least have a better understanding of their problems and their situation."
Judge Bamberger was in court Monday and unavailable to comment. The extra money for the Kenton County Courthouse is because of a redesign suggested to the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts by a state-hired consultant and not because of a cost overrun, said Kenton County Deputy Judge-executive George Neack. The new courthouse is under construction near the existing courthouse in downtown Covington.
Two years ago the General Assembly agreed to spend about $26.5 million initially for the project, which will house only judicial courts. The county offices will remain in the existing courthouse, where the judicial and fiscal courts now share space.
The consultant performed a demographic and design study and reconfigured the 55,000-square-foot courthouse, adding more bathrooms, office space and areas for smokers.
The building, however, has one fewer courtroom than when it was originally designed and funded during the 1996 General Assembly session.
Mr. Neack said the project and the additional funding were supported by the Kenton County Fiscal Court, the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus, members of the judicial bench in Kenton County and Kentucky Chief Justice Robert Stephens.
Mr. Neack also credited Rep. Mike Bowling, D-Middlesboro, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, with putting the project in the state's Judicial Branch Budget.
The courthouse has already attained a certain level of infamy because of its tainted bidding process.
Three local developers bid on the project -- Corporex Cos., Wessels Co. and Carroll Properties. Corporex won the bid, but Kenton County Judge-executive Clyde Middleton resigned last month after admitting he made a mistake in showing the bids of the other two developers to Corporex Chairman Bill Butler.
