Chesterfield wants to keep court fees for itself

Circuit Court Clerk Judy L. Worthington's quest for freedom is a step closer to reality. Now it's in the hands of the state from which she's seeking independence.

The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors tonight approved a charter change that -- if approved by the General Assembly -- would allow the clerk's office to be supported solely by the county.

"This is about severing our financial dependence on state funding," Worthington said. "In return, the county would be able to retain fees they're not currently getting."

Worthington estimated that the proposed arrangement could bring the county $500,000 to $1 million a year in fees that now go to the state.

The clerk's office generates about $10 million for the state annually.

In Virginia, only Richmond, Roanoke and Newport News have independent clerk's offices.

The item was advanced unanimously by the board with no discussion, but Midlothian Supervisor Daniel A. Gecker thanked Worthington for taking the lead.

"I think this is an important thing for us to be doing," he said.

The primary advantage to the charter change, Worthington said, would be that money generated by fees in excess of state budget appropriations could be kept by the county rather than funneled to the state.

"That's a small piece of the pie, but it's enough to help the taxpayers," she said, noting that her office is supposed see most of that money back but state cuts were preventing it, leaving the county to pick up the slack.

"The state budget keeps shrinking. It just makes sense to let the county take it over, because they're doing it anyway," she said. "My constituents are the ones who are going to suffer if I have to cut back services."

Worthington she has heard from other localities across the state since her office announced its intent to go independent last month.

Worthington led a legislative effort in 1989 to allow clerk's offices in all large jurisdictions to go independent, but that legislation failed. The charter change has a better chance of success because it is unique to Chesterfield, she said.

Under the change, the clerk would remain a constitutional officer elected by the citizens and the county would oversee the office's budget.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .