Barbour County, new court costs and disbursement of fees provided for following referendum

Barbour court fees fund sheriff staff pay

The law took effect June 1, 2025, but its court fees and hazard-pay rules require local voter approval. Approval requires a majority of votes cast in a Barbour County referendum at the next regularly scheduled county election. With approval, added filing fees are $25 for civil cases outside small claims and $10 for small-claims cases. Misdemeanor and felony cases, including traffic offenses, carry an added $25 fee upon conviction. These fees can be waived only when all other case fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges are waived. The money goes into a dedicated Sheriff's Office Hazardous Duty Fund. It pays nonclerical sheriff's office employees who perform hazardous duties, but not the sheriff. The sheriff certifies eligible employees and the amount needed to the county commission for payment. After the first payment, payments must occur at least yearly; semiannual, quarterly, or monthly payments are also allowed. The sheriff or a designee maintains the fund, with state public-account examiners auditing it on their usual schedule. The county commission cannot count this law when setting employee raises or the sheriff's office's yearly operating funds. The law sets no individual payment, required raise, or operating-budget amount. The probate judge sets the referendum date and certifies results to the Secretary of State. The county pays election costs not reimbursed by a government agency. A majority 'Yes' vote activates the fee and pay rules immediately; a majority 'No' vote repeals the law.