Smith                               Currie

Carroll County judges Donald Currie and Jeffrey Smith are having a difference of opinion with the county council about where to make the latest round of budget reductions. The judges indicated their departments suffered enough decreases before the last set. The council believes the latest cuts are necessary to prevent further reduction of already diminished county emergency services or perhaps force the closure of Carroll Manor.

The judges have appeared at council meetings to discuss the situation. Council members remain firm in their position and so do the judges.

However, the judges can legally issue a mandate ordering the council to come around to their point of view. A mandate is a court order which would force the council to fund the amount the judges believe they should be appropriated to provide the services they state must be provided.

Judge Smith imposed a mandate approximately 18 months ago to hire and pay personnel to do the work of a staff member who was on extended medical leave. The county personnel policy provides for part-time and temporary staff at a lower rate of pay than Smith requested the newest employee be paid. The judge desired to afford the new position a higher rate of pay and permanent status with his court. He ordered the council to compensate the staff person as he chose, and they made the decision to comply rather than fight the mandate in court, which could have been costly for the county.

The judges have intimated they might issue another mandate to gain funding for their budgets, which are superior, circuit and joint courts. Although this situation has been reported at various times in the Comet, the judges do not believe their message has been adequately represented.

So, to reach the masses, they went hi-tech and started a "blog" on the internet. The address is www.carrollcounty courts.blogspot.com/. It includes a video of the judges explaining their position.

"WHY A BLOG?" the page begins. "It has been difficult for us to adequately convey our position and provide important information to the citizens of Carroll County through local media. It is our hope that through this Blog you will be better informed about the business of the Carroll County Courts."

Readers are encouraged to visit the judges' blog site to understand their position about further budget reductions.