Published: November 11, 2009 10:54 am      

Clinton County court affected by furloughs

DES MOINES — In the last fallout from the state’s budget crunch, the Iowa Supreme Court has ordered judges, magistrates and other staffers to take 10 days of unpaid furloughs between December and next June.

Court offices also will close on the days when employees are off work.

Clinton County District Court is included in the closures, which will occur Dec. 4, Dec. 24, Dec. 31, Jan. 15, Feb. 15, March 12, March 26, April 2, May 28 and June 18.

Marilyn Huff, clerk of court in Clinton County, said the closures were scheduled on days that aren’t typically busy for the courts, but are often very busy for the clerk’s office. The majority of the days are on Fridays, typically the busiest day of the week for the clerks.

“It’s going to put us behind,” said Huff. “You can bet when we come back on Mondays, we will be very busy.”

Huff says staff members at the Clinton County Courthouse are waiting anxiously for the Thursday release of more detailed reductions.

“There’s just no good solution to this,” said Huff. “They have to cut the budget. I think everyone in my staff, we all agree that we would rather have furlough days than layoffs.”

Court spokesman Steve Davis says they didn’t have a choice but to order the reductions because of a 10 percent across-the-board reduction ordered by Gov. Chet Culver. He added that layoffs likely will be announced Thursday.