White said the county paid the previous $500,000 from funds that had been appropriated elsewhere, but funds aren't available for another $500,000. A tax raise to cover the unexpected $1 million would be about $10 per household, White said, but the fee could be recurring — and it would quickly add up.

"We're getting concerned that it's a little out of control," White said.

The court decided against setting a particular schedule for Provo's cases because of the precedent it would set for other case categories, said Derek Pullan, presiding judge of the 4th District Court. The court balances thousands of cases from all of Utah County's cities between 11 judges, and it makes scheduling difficult.

"Provo may not be the only city that wants one judge dedicated just to hear their cases," Pullan said. "There are other litigants that would want that same privilege. ... There really is a system-wide concern that has to be considered when we make these decisions."

Pullan said the advent of Provo's justice court has taken the district court to "uncharted territory," and they are trying to figure out how to adjust to the new situation. Until this July, Provo's cases were heard in the 4th District Court Building.

Although Pullan says the court tries to be sensitive to what municipal impacts its decisions will have, the court's main priority is to make sure that justice is fairly given to everyone affected by the legal system.

"What's at stake is the quality of justice for the litigants," Pullan said. "The 4th District bench is united in its efforts to serve that interest, and we try to make sure that our ... decisions do that."

Pullan said Utah County has not presented any numbers to the court about the financial impact of the court's decision. If the county wants to present new information about the cost to the court, Pullan says, "Our door is always open."

---

E-mail: achoate@desnews.com