Berea Municipal Court budget shows deep financial deficit

BEREA, Ohio – Berea Municipal Court is projected to operate in 2021 at an even greater financial deficit than in prior years.

Unless corrective actions are taken, the estimated year-end shortage is predicted to be more than $380,000.

The court’s situation is nothing new, Berea Finance Director Andrea Morris explained at the March 9 Finance Committee budget review.

“They were already heading toward a deficit before COVID-19, and COVID just made that even worse,” Morris said, acknowledging “very few courts operate in the black.”

The city advanced the court $190,000 at the end of 2020 to meet its financial obligations, she said, but the court must repay it.

“As 2020 went on, we…

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