To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Jessica Clemens, Director of Court Finance
title
RE: Circuit Court Request to authorize the funding of three (3) Jury Payment Kiosks in Circuit Court
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve the use of funds to be utilized, not to exceed $86,400.00, for the use of supplying currency for three (3) Jury Payment Kiosks.
BACKGROUND:
In 2017, the Circuit Court received authorization to purchase and use a Jury Kiosk System to help expedite payment of Juror fees to Jurors (RESO 17-098).
In August 2022, RESO 2022-603 was authorized for the purchase and use of two (2) additional Jury Kiosks.
Circuit Court has worked diligently to ensure the setup of all kiosks and establish a process for funding.
DISCUSSION:
Individuals selected for Jury duty are required to attend, and for many Genesee County residents, this civil duty results in the individual being unable to work for the day and earn money for their families. By providing the option to receive a cash payment on the day of service, we can reduce some of the financial strain jury duty may impose.
With the use of one kiosk, when a large group of jurors are released at once, the wait can be longer than one hour to get everyone checked out. By adding the use of two (2) additional kiosks, we will be able to provide a more efficient checkout process for staff and jurors.
In December 2022, the two (2) additional kiosks were purchased and installed in the Circuit Court Jury room. Since installation, IT has been working persistently on the configuration aspects to ensure operational use works effectively.
Total amount of funds required for the use of all three kiosks is $86,400.00, half will be maintained in a Loomis vault ($43,200) and half will be located within the kiosks for payment processing ($14,400.00 in each kiosk).
Current contract with Loomis is discussed under RESO 2023-898 .
Funds maintained in the Loomis vault and within in kiosks are recorded in account 1010-000.00-006.000.The expenses for the payments made by all three kiosks will be recorded in account 1010-283.00-907.004. No additional appropriation is required since this request will only shift the method of payment from check to currency.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
All costs are budgeted for FY 23/24. Account 1010-283.00-907.004 will be used to supply funds for all three kiosks with a shift from being paid via check to cash payments. No additional County appropriation required.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Court IT will continue to work with County IT with regards to maintaining secure network connections.
IMPACT ON OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OR OUTSIDE AGENCIES:
Circuit Court has worked closely with Treasury in the past with funding of the first kiosk. This process will continue along with a contract with Loomis (RESO 2023-898).
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This request aligns with the county priorities by providing timely payment of services to residents and promoting community growth.
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of Court Finance to authorize the funding of three Jury Payment Kiosks, through accounts 1010-000.00-006.000 and 1010-283.00-907.004 for the payment of juror fees, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request with supporting documents being on file with the official records of November 29, 2023 meeting of the Finance Committee of this Board).