Stephens Co. Considers Court Fee Ordinance

Stephens County Commissioners are considering adopting a court fee ordinance.

The county commission held a public hearing and first reading of the proposed ordinance at its meeting on Tuesday.

According to Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck, the proposed ordinance would attach a court fee to several pleas and convictions in the county’s court system.

Ranck said the fee would be $10.

“This fee would be imposed on any fine or community service sentence from the Magistrate Court, State Court, or Superior Court for any violation of any county ordinances or state law,” said Ranck. “The purpose of this fee is to help defray the cost of the operation of the court system.”

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said that monies collected from that fee would go into the county’s general fund and offset the costs of running the courts.

No action was taken on the proposed court fee ordinance on Tuesday by Stephens County Commissioners.

A second reading of the proposed ordinance is required at a future meeting before a vote could be taken on whether to adopt the ordinance.