Opinion ID: 853838
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Effect on other governmental interests.

Text: This Court has also stated that among the issues to be decided in a mandate proceeding is whether any specific fiscal or other governmental interests are so severely and adversely affected by the payment as to require the order to be set aside. In Re Mandate of Funds for the Brown Circuit Court, 507 N.E.2d 583, 584. The County Council asserts this standard for reversing a mandate has been met. The evidence, as found by the special judge, shows that Knox County revenues exceeded county expenditures in 1996 by $159,940 and in 1997 by $124,749. The mandated funds, wages plus fringe benefits and the employer's share of Social Security and Medicare, would total just under $20,000 per year in additional salary appropriations. For 1997, the Knox County courts collected $392,670 in revenue for the county. The county appropriation for the three courts was $486,745. Here again, the County Council does not specifically challenge these facts, which refute its contention that the mandate orders would severely and adversely affect local government. Although there was evidence from the county auditor and County Council members describing financial conditions in the county as generally poor, we cannot say that the evidence supports a conclusion that an additional $20,000 per year in salary appropriations would severely and adversely affect the operation of government in Knox County.