Local governments fight state’s court-fees collection

Thursday, Oct. 30, 1997 | 9:23 a.m.

Mary Walker of the Nevada Association of Counties told the committee Tuesday that switching the money to the state would mean a cutback in local services or an increase in taxes.

Tom Grady of the Nevada League of Cities said the money collected in local courts goes to fund law enforcement and judicial programs.

The committee, headed by Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, was created by the 1997 Legislature to see if local courts are collecting all the money that is due and if it is being properly split between the state, counties and cities.

A legislative audit, released in 1995 and covering the years of 1991-94, found millions of dollars going uncollected by municipal, justice and district courts. And the money was not being properly distributed, with the state being shorted.

Walker, Carson City's finance director, said much has changed since the audit was completed. Some governments have hired private collection agencies. And those who are fined are allowed to use credit cards to pay, thereby improving collections.

Walker also challenged the interpretation of legislative lawyers that certain fees imposed by the courts should be going to the state.

Carole Vilardo, executive director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said the state has used court assessments and fines to finance other programs such as the displaced homemaker and a graffiti award fund.

She said these programs should be evaluated to see if they can be eliminated.

While the 1995 audit complained the state was not receiving its fair share, Vilardo said, "The fact that the state has not received the money does not mean the state needs to collect it."

North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Steve Dahl told the committee that cities, when they collect on traffic tickets, are rightfully keeping the money. When a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper writes a ticket and sends the offender to a Municipal Court, the violation is automatically turned into a city offense.