Municipal Court Special Revenue Fund
FY 2023 Annual Budget
Department Description
The Municipal Court Special Revenue Fund is used to account for funds generated from Municipal Court fees. The Local Consolidated Fee is collected on all fine-only misdemeanor offenses, including criminal violation of a municipal ordinance. The money may only be used for the purposes provided by Local Government Code 134.151(a): Municipal Court Building Security Fund - may only be used for security personnel, services, and items related to buildings that house the operation of municipal court; Local Truancy Prevention and Diversion Fund - may only be used to finance the salary, benefits, training, travel expenses, office supplies, and other necessary expenses relating to the position of juvenile case manager. Money may not be used to supplement the income of an employee whose primary role is not juvenile case manager; Municipal Court Technology Fund - may only be used to finance the purchase of or to maintain technological enhancements for a municipal court; Municipal Jury Fund - may only be used by municipality to fund juror reimbursements and otherwise finance jury services. Also accounted for in this fund is the Child Safety Fine; a fine collected on all Rules of the Road violations occurring within an active school zone. In a municipality with a population of less than 850,000, the money collected must be used for a school crossing guard program if the municipality operates one. If the municipality does not operate a school crossing guard program, or if the money received from court costs from municipal court cases exceeds the amount necessary to fund the school crossing guard program, the municipality may expend the money for programs designed to enhance child safety, health, or nutrition or for programs designed to enhance public safety and security. In addition, Victoria County has elected to collect an optional child safety fee for registering a vehicle in the county. A portion of this fee is sent to the City of Victoria for use under the same guidelines as the Child Safety Fine