Certify that the total court revenues collected in Fiscal Year 2024 exceeded total court revenues collected in Fiscal Year 1998, and authorize distribution of the 5% set-aside revenues, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2421.

In 1999, the Arizona Legislature enacted A.R.S. § 41-2421, a law enhancing collections in the courts, setting forth the allocation of those revenues to criminal justice entities (popularly referred to as the Fill the Gap initiative).  Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-2421, a base year of revenue thresholds was established as Fiscal Year 1998.  Thereafter, 5% of revenues collected by the courts were to be “set-aside” until the determination that a subsequent year’s revenues exceeded that of the base year.  If so, those “set-aside” dollars are to be disbursed to the below-outlined criminal justice agencies. The annual certification of court revenues is a statutory requirement for disbursement of the 5% set-aside funds per the funding formula.  Total court revenues for FY24 were $6,125,334.40.  Since the requirement that the FY24 revenue be higher than the FY98 base revenue threshold of $2,100,102 has been met, the 5% "set aside" funds may be disbursed. 

Once the revenue certification is approved by the BOS, Court Admin will submit a budget amendment and interfund transfer to distribute the funds.  The 5% set-aside number is $306,266.72.  Per the funding formula, the funds will be distributed as follows: 21.61% to County Attorney          $  66,184.24
20.53% to Indigent Defense         $  62,876.56
  0.49% to the State                      $    1,500.70

 

Without the Board's official certification, these funds cannot be properly distributed to the departments and state. 

Once the revenue certification has been approved and signed, please send via interoffice mail to Rita Shipley, Superior Court Budget & Finance Director (Bisbee Court Admin Building).