Washington State Version 1.2 - November 2003 A descriptive model of the number and cost This document contains the contents of the first three introductory pages of the SimGap Model, the out-put of the base model and a list and description of the major assumptions made in the model. Introduction The SimGap Model is an interactive model that describes the current level and cost of personnel supporting the Washington State trial courts and identifies and quantifies the "gap" between what is and what should be. Like any model, SimGap is based upon assumptions, both of what is and what should be. The model is designed to allow you to modify many of the assumptions about what should be and then shows you the resulting change in the "gap." How to Use SimGap
A Cautionary Note SimGap is designed to document current costs and project the minimal needs of the Washington State trial courts collectively. It cannot be applied to individual courts or programs. The model is not designed to evaluate current staffing of individual courts and does not account for the many variations in case management systems, staffing patterns, targeted calendars and programs and cooperative inter-jurisdictional programs. Understand the Assumptions SimGap contains many assumptions. The assumptions fall primarily into three categories: Staffing Ratios: The types of ratios used vary throughout the model - staff per judge, staff per judicial officer, staff per court, and filings per staff are the four most common ratios used in the model. Salaries: Average statewide salaries based on the high end of salary schedules are used. There is more information about salaries on the following page. Benefits: With the exception of Superior Court Judges, all benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. There is more information and an opportunity to adjust this percentage on the following page. Contact Information For more information about the SimGap model, please contact: Jeff Hall, Executive Director Board for Judicial Administration A NOTE ABOUT SALARIES Average salaries contained throughout the model are based upon several sources: Statute, the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey, the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, and 2000 trial court expenditure data. Statute Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey 2000 trial court expenditure data Benefits To change the benefit rate assumption, enter a different percentage here: 23.5% Washington State Court Funding Task Force Version 1.4 - June 2004
SUPERIOR COURT
JUVENILE COURT
COUNTY CLERKS
DISTRICT COURT
MUNICIPAL COURT
JURY COSTS
Superior Court Current Number: 175.0 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Superior Court, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 18.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon the input-output model. The base estimate assumes that all additional judicial officers will be judge positions. Salary: $121,972 Salary is based on statute. The total salary is reported without distinction between county and state share. Benefits: $17,572 Benefits are based upon FY 2002 actual expenditures by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Superior Court Commissioners Current Number: 47.6 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Superior Court, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 0 FTE All additional judicial officer need estimated by the input-output model are assumed to be judges. Salary: $109,775 Salary is estimated at 90 percent of a Superior Court Judge salary. The majority of counties set the salary of Superior Court Commissioners as a percentage of judge salary, usually 90 percent, though some are lower (80 percent and 85 percent). Benefits: $25,797 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Superior Court Reporters Current Number: 119.9 FTE The current number is based upon a survey conducted by the AOC research division and represents 2002 FTE adjusted to a 40 hour work week. Estimated Need: 18.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon an assumption of 1 court reporter FTE for each new Superior Court Judge position. Salary: $57,891 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Fourteen Counties reported court reporter salaries. Benefits: $13,604 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Superior Court Judicial Assistant/Bailiff Current Number: 148.8 FTE The current number of FTE is based upon the FY 2000 Trial Court Expenditure data from which a then-current ratio of 0.85 judicial assistant/bailiff per judge position was derived. The 0.85 ratio was applied to the number of judge positions in 2002 to arrive at the estimated number of current FTE. The positions of judicial assistant and bailiff were considered as the same position for purposes of the model. Actual job descriptions and functions vary among courts. Estimated Need: 44.3 FTE The model assumes that functionally, each Superior Court judge position warrants one staff member to serve a variety of functions including jury management during trials, secretarial services, and calendaring functions. How individual trial courts deploy the position may vary and the actual FTE may or may not be a personal employee of a judge or judicial officer. The model assumes one judicial assistant/bailiff FTE per judge. The estimate for additional need therefore assumes bringing the current number forward to a one to one ratio plus one FTE per new judge position included in the model. Salary: $44,399 Salary is based upon FY 2000 actual expenditures derived by dividing the total reported salaries for all non-judicial superior court staff by the total number of reported staff positions. This figure warrants an update: the salary is based upon FY 2000 salaries, the FTE is a total count of positions rather than actual FTE, and the salaries included all positions without distinction. Benefits: $10,434 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Superior Court Law Clerk Current Number: 0 FTE The model reflects a current number of 0 FTE. It is known that two to three Superior Courts currently employ law trained judicial assistants or employ a true law clerk, however, these FTE are included in the current numbers of judicial assistant/bailiff and court administration personnel and not distinguishable in the data. Estimated Need: 63.7 FTE The estimated need for law clerk positions is based on a ratio of 0.33 FTE per judge position. This figure warrants an update: two potential sources are the survey of superior court staff – current and needed and/or a survey of superior court judges on their perception of need and potential use. Salary: $48,156 Salary is based on law clerk salary range for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, salary schedule range 51. Benefits: $11,156 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Superior Court Administrative Staff Current Number: 230.5 FTE The current number of FTE is based upon the 2002 caseloads of the superior court reported 40-hour workweek FTE minus the estimated number of judicial assistant/bailiff positions (0.85 per judge). Estimated Need: 80.9 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a graduated scale for different sized courts (total judicial officers) on either a per-court or per-judicial officer basis. The ratios contained in the model are based upon a 2003 survey of Superior Courts current and estimated additional FTE need. Salary: $46,779 Salary is based upon FY 2000 actual expenditures derived by dividing the total reported salaries for all non-judicial superior court staff by the total number of reported staff positions and adjusted based 2001 and 2002 Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton CPI-W (3.6% and 1.7% increases respectively). Benefits: $10,434 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Superior Court Supplies and Other Services Current Expenditures: $12,584,316 Based on FY 2000 actual reported expenditures. Juvenile Court Juvenile Court Senior Administrative Staff Current Number: 46.9 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 3.3 FTE Estimated need is based on a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Salary: $71,431 Salary is an average of salaries for all positions reported in the administrative category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Benefits: $16,786 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Administrative Staff Current Number: 29.6 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 2.5 FTE Estimated need is based on a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Salary: $55,849 Salary is an average of salaries for all positions reported in the administrative category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Benefits: $13,125 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Support Staff Current Number: 238.2 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 9.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Salary: $50,565 Salary is an average of salaries for all positions reported in the support staff category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Benefits: $11,883 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Facilities Staff Current Number: 18.5 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 0 FTE No estimated of additional need is included. Salary: $47,915 Salary is an average of salaries for all positions reported in the facilities category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Benefits: $11,260 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Probation/Casework Services Staff Current Number: 287.4 FTE The current number is based upon 2001 Washington State Institute for Public Policy data on juvenile court expenditures. This number compares favorably with the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey (272.9 Non-Manager FTE in the Probation/Casework Services category). Estimated Need: 20.3 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a ratio of 75 low-risk youth per probation counselor and 25 medium to high-risk youth per probation counselor. These ratios were applied to 2001 reported average daily populations of youth, adjusted to impute data for Adams County, taken from 2001 WSIPP juvenile court expenditure data. Based upon state-wide risk assessment data juvenile court and WSIPP staff estimate that 29 percent of youth on probation are classified as low-risk. Salary: $58,379 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Benefits: $13,719 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Probation/Casework Support Staff Current Number: 221.9 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 30.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Salary: $46,061 Salary is an average of salaries for support positions reported in the probation/casework services category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Twenty-five juvenile courts reported one or more positions in this category. Benefits: $10,824 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Detention Staff Current Number: 708.6 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 19.5 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Salary: $49,896 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Benefits: $11,726 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Food Services Staff Current Number: 27.3 FTE The current number is based upon the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 0 FTE No estimated of additional need is included. Salary: $38,495 Salary is an average of salaries for all positions reported in the food services category of the 2002 Juvenile Court Salary Survey, Administrative Office of the Courts. Benefits: $9,046 Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Juvenile Court Detention Medical and Mental Health Services Estimate of additional funding need: $566,000 The estimate of additional funding need is based upon a 2003 survey of juvenile court administrators. Respondents reported either an FTE need with associated salary and benefit costs or a flat dollar amount needed for expanded contract services. Respondents indicated need for Medical Doctor, Registered Nurse, and Mental Health Counselor FTE. All figures were converted to a flat dollar amount.
Juvenile Court Intervention Program Services Estimate of additional funding needed: $11,942,800 The estimate of additional funding for intervention programs is based upon 2002 risk assessment data compiled by the Washington Institute for Public Policy. The data assumes that youth who previously received a CJAA intervention would remain eligible and receive multiple interventions and does not consider excluding youth with certain characteristics from participating in CJAA programs. The cost for a family receiving Functional Family Therapy services on two or more occasions may decrease for the services provided subsequent to the first instance of provision. County Clerk County Clerk Staff Current Number: 748.5 FTE The current number of FTE is based upon the 2002 caseloads of the superior court reported 40-hour workweek FTE. Estimated Need: 213.5 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a ratio of 4 FTE per judicial officer. Salary: $34,966 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Thirty-six Counties reported court clerk salaries. Note that no distinction was made in the salary survey between superior and district court clerks. The salary figure is used for both superior and district court positions in the model. Benefits: $8,217 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. County Clerk Supplies and Other Services Current Expenditures: $5,936,794 Based on FY 2000 actual reported expenditures. District CourtDistrict Court Judges Current Number: 100.5 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 3.5 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon the input-output model. The base estimate assumes that all additional judicial officers will be judge positions. Salary: $116,135 Salary is based on statute. The total salary is reported without distinction between county and state share. Benefits: $27,524 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. District Court Commissioners Current Number: 14.8 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 0 FTE All additional judicial officer need estimated by the input-output model are assumed to be judges. Salary: $104,522 Salary is estimated at 90 percent of a District Court Judge salary. The majority of counties set the salary of District Court Commissioners as a percentage of judge salary, usually 90 percent, though some are lower (80 percent and 85 percent). Benefits: $24,563 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. District Court Staff Current Number: 647.2 FTE The current number of FTE is based upon the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts reported 40-hour workweek FTE. Estimated Need: 204.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a graduated scale of filing to staff ratios derived from the 2002 Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts. Courts were sorted into rank order by total number of filings and then natural groups were selected with the filing ratio for each group consisting of the average of the better staffed courts in each grouping (see graphic). Salary: $34,112 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Thirty-six Counties reported court clerk salaries. Note that no distinction was made in the salary survey between superior and district court clerks. The salary figure is used for both superior court clerk and district court positions in the model. Benefits: $8,016 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. District Court Supplies and Other Services Current Expenditures: $9,394,131 Based on FY 2000 actual reported expenditures. Municipal CourtMunicipal Court Judges Current Number: 47.6 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts. Note: For Municipal Court Judge positions, 47.6 FTE equates to 108 actual positions. Estimated Need: 0.0 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon the input-output model. The 2002 model does not estimate any additional judicial need statewide, though the model does predict additional need in some individual courts. Salary: Varies Salaries are based upon a 2003 survey of municipal court judges conducted by the District and Municipal Court Judge’s Association. The average salary for four categories of FTE were calculated: Full-time, ¾ time, ½ time and less than ½ time. Benefits: Varies Benefits are calculated at 23.5 percent of salary. Municipal Court Commissioners Current Number: 10.8 FTE The current number is taken from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts. Estimated Need: 0 FTE No additional municipal court judicial officer positions are estimated by the input-output model. Salary: $ Varies Salary is estimated at 90 percent of a full-time municipal court judge. Benefits: $ Varies Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Municipal Court Staff Current Number: 637.5 FTE The current number of FTE is based upon the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts reported 40-hour workweek FTE. Estimated Need: 38.2 FTE The estimated additional need is based upon a graduated scale of filing to staff ratios derived from the 2002 Annual Caseloads of the Limited Jurisdiction Courts. Courts were sorted into rank order by total number of filings and then natural groups were selected with the filing ratio for each group consisting of the average of the better staffed courts in each grouping (see graphic). Salary: $36,965 Salary is an average of salaries based upon the Association of Washington Cities 2002 Salary Survey. Ninety Cities reported court clerk salaries. Benefits: $8,687 Benefits are estimated at 23.5 percent of salary. Municipal Court Supplies and Other Services Current Expenditures: $10,380,685 Based on FY 2000 actual reported expenditures. Jury System Costs Jury system costs are calculated based on reported jury trials by case type contained in 2002 Superior and Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Caseload Reports. Juror usage figures were developed by telephone consultation with trial court staff as part of the Jury Commission. Capital Facility Costs Capital facility costs are based upon minimum square footage standards developed by the National Center for State Courts. A standard cost per square foot of $165 is applied to all capital facility costs based on estimates from Capital Budget staff. |
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