2009 Kitsap County Budget Book - Kitsap County Government

CLERK
II.
Purpose:
It is our mission to serve the courts and the citizens of Kitsap County in a manner best suited to provide quality, efficient and
effective service. We believe the public has a right to employees who embody the highest standards of excellence, integrity and
fairness. The County Clerk is an elected official, whose position is authorized by the State Constitution. The office functions as
the record keeper and financial officer for the Superior Court. The Kitsap County Clerk has also taken on the responsibility to
provide jurors for all courts in Kitsap County and to provide legal counsel for indigent defendants.The duties of the Clerk are:
(from RCW 2.32.050)
• To keep the seal of the court and affix it in all cases where he is required by law
• To record the proceedings of the court
• To keep the records, files and other books and papers appertaining to the court
• To file all papers delivered to him for that purpose in any action or proceeding in the court as directed by court rule or
statute
• To attend the court of which he is CLERK, to administer oaths, and receive the verdict of a jury in any action or
proceeding therein, in the presence and under the direction of the court
• To keep the journal of the proceedings of the court, and, under the direction of the court, to enter its orders, judgments
and decrees
• To authenticate by certificate or transcript, as may be required, the records, files or proceedings of the court, or any
other paper appertaining thereto and filed with him
• To exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed upon him elsewhere by statute
• In the performance of his duties to conform to the direction of the court
• To publish notice of the procedures for inspection of the public records of the court
III.
IV.
2008 Accomplishments:
• Staffed a satellite passport office in the Kitsap Mall to better serve citizens and increase revenue
• Sent staff to the Kingston Community Fair and Kitsap Fair to process passports
• Continued to image old files to improve citizen access to court files and reduce storage needs
• Obtained an additional grant to convert a portion of microfilmed court records to images to improve citizen access to
court information
• Participated in finalizing Clerk work space in the new SAIVS office
• Continued increase in revenue from Legal Financial Obligation (LFO) collections
• Utilized “Pay or Appear” calendar to collect LFO’s from convicted felons
• Began to use electronic data sources to find and collect from convicted felons owing LFO’s
• Completed planning and creation of a Public Defender Division (within the Clerk’s Office)
• Presented a plan to handle Juvenile Court and District Court cases with in-house attorneys within present PD budget
funding
• Used funds obtained from the State Office of Public Defense (OPD) and existing budget to hire a Public Defender
Division Supervisor to oversee Public Defense and handle a limited case load (funds limited to use in this area)
• Absorbed Drug Court representation within PD Division for a $60,000 annual savings
• Renegotiated public defense contracts for District Court and Juvenile Court
• Contracted with a firm, at no cost to the County, to begin an e-certification process
• Expanded information and forms available on the web
• Explored use of fillable forms on the web
• Ended 2008 spending only 91.36% of originally budgeted expenditures while collecting 128.7% of budgeted revenues
for a positive $995,634 savings/increased revenue impact going into 2009
• Presented a budget for 2009 to continue quality Clerk’s Office services with fewer staff members, a cut in funds for
supplies and services, and a new revenue source
• Received many comments from attorneys that the Kitsap County Clerk’s Office is the most friendly, helpful, and
customer-oriented Clerk’s Office with which they do business
2009 Goals & Objectives:
• We will contribute to Inclusive Government by providing enhanced information and services via the web
• We will contribute to Inclusive Government and to Efficient & Effective County Services by continuing to offer a satellite
office at appropriate times in the Kitsap Mall and at the County Fair to process passports
• We will contribute to Efficient & Effective County Services and Thriving Local Economy by continuing to increase our
collection of criminal legal financial obligations
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