By Tom Ferrick

(Part 2 of 5)

Mayor Nutter likes to talk about making political alliances outside the city. Well, here is an opportunity for him to join other local officials across the state to press for a change in the way county courts are funded.
For 22 years, the state of Pennsylvania has been living under a state Supreme Court order calling for it to pay most of the costs of running county courts. And for 22 years, the state has pretty much ignored that order.
Baby steps were taken in 1999 when the state agreed to pick up the cost of the salaries of top court administrators in the 67 counties, but it has done nothing since.
In Philadelphia, it costs the city close to $200 million a year to operate the Common Pleas and Municipal Courts. (Remember, Philadelphia is its own county, as well as a city.) Most of that figure goes to pay the salaries and fringe benefits of the courts’ 1,920 employees, though the judges’ salaries are paid by the state.
The issue had been quiet for several years - until December. That’s when the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania filed a motion with the state Supreme Court asking it to enforce its order - and make the state pay up.
In the past, some county commissioner have been reluctant to join this crusade, partly because the court system is a good source of patronage jobs. But, the sagging economy - which has hit county budgets hard - focused their minds. This appears to be a serious effort..
Naturally, the state, which has financial troubles of its own, will be reluctant to pick up county court costs statewide, which are estimated to be in excess of $400 million.
But, the county commissioners do have political clout. So does Nutter - along with other mayors in other Pennsylvania cities. The Supreme Court, seeing how little progress has been made on this issue, is likely to add pressure on the legislature as well.
To me, that sounds like a formidable alliance.
I doubt the counties could get the state to pay their entire bill. But, if they could get the state to start ponying up a portion of the costs - say, 25% — with a timetable to pay for more in the future, it would ease the pain for Philadelphia — not the mention Allegheny, Dauphin, Lehigh, Bucks, Montgomery and other counties.

With the state picking up a quarter of local court costs, the city would save about $50 million a year. Potential savings over five years: $250 million.

Tommorrow: Option No. 2: The Third Path