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closeWARNER ROBINS — Houston County Magistrate Court fines may increase Jan. 1.
The fines for misdemeanor ordinance violations and bad check cases are being looked at as a way to increase revenue for the county in tough economic times while also bringing the fines in line with what neighboring cities charge, said Houston County Commissioner Gail Robinson.
“It’s not going to raise lots and lots of money,” Robinson said.
The new fines would be in line with what Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville charge, Robinson said.
Houston County Magistrate Judge Robert E. Turner is in the process of developing a new fine schedule. Specifics were unavailable.
Turner said in an e-mail last week that he expects to finish a revised fine schedule by the county commissioners’ Tuesday meeting.
While fees are set by the General Assembly, fines are imposed by the judge in a case. Most courts have pre-published fine schedules for routine cases, Turner said in his e-mail. However, a judge has legal authority to deviate from the fine schedule in any particular case at any amount up to a maximum of $1,000, he said.
The Houston County Magistrate fine schedule has not been adjusted since 1997, Turner said.
Although commissioners do not have a vote on the schedule Turner is revising, he said in the e-mail that he will present the schedule to them as a courtesy.
“I feel probably if it’s been that long, and we’re significantly below what most surrounding municipalities are charging, (increased fines) would be reasonable,” Robinson said.
Magistrate Court fines are imposed for infractions ranging from convictions for bad checks to violations of the animal control ordinances to other violations of the county code, Robinson said.
While budget discussions generally do not come up until the spring, Commission Chairman Ned Sanders already has commissioners and department heads looking at ways to increase revenue or cut expenditures, Robinson said.
She said at least two other early budget-related meetings are expected in January and February in preparation of the fiscal 2011 budget, which runs from June 30 to July 1, 2011.
Steve Engle, Houston County director of administration, said Magistrate Court fines are the only ones currently being considered.
Of course, that could change, Robinson added, as the budgeting process continues.
The new fine schedule would likely go into effect Jan. 1, Robinson said.
Also Jan. 1, new alcoholic beverage license fees will go into effect. Commissioners voted in October to increase the alcoholic beverage license fees to comparable levels of the same fees charged by the county’s three cities, Engle said.
The new fees are expected to generate $15,000 to $20,000 per fiscal year, he said.
Houston County now charges $115 each for a beer package sales/consumption license and a wine package sales/consumption license. The new fees will be $350.
The county’s fee for the liquor consumption license will increase from $2,000 to $3,500. The fee for a liquor package sales license will remain the same at $3,500.
To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.
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