The rift between the Independence County District Court and Independence County Judge Robert Griffin (pictured above, right) seems to be coming to an end.
District Court Judge Chaney Taylor (pictured, left) said Thursday he is returning the funding to the county that he recently redirected to the City of Batesville and has committed to restoring all funding due the county.
In return, Griffin has withdrawn a proposed ordinance that would have cut the funding of the district court by $165,000 — a cut that would have put the court out of operation.
In fact, County Attorney Daniel R. Haney has said he understands it, Independence County will receive funds from the district court as early as Friday. That move brings the heated situation closer to normalcy.
In a statement, Griffin said one of the county judge’s most important duties is overseeing the budget as appropriated by the quorum court — revenues as well as expenditures. The county judge added that in the case of the district court, the remedy required either a return of revenues redirected by the district court to the City of Batesville, or a cut to the district court budget while meeting the requirements of the law.
With the announcement that both sides have found a resolution to the district court funding issue, Griffin noted he will pull from consideration by the quorum court the ordinance to adjust the district court’s budget.
Haney said these decisions ensure the Independence County District Court can fully operate for the citizens.
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