In the near future, I will introduce “The Local Government Efficiency and Cost Control Act”, legislation that will modify Title 16, Section 14102.0 of the Consolidated Statutes to allow Counties of the Fourth Class an option that would permit one individual to hold the Office of Prothonotary and the Office of Clerk of Courts in Pennsylvania. This proposed change aims to improve efficiency, enhance public service, and reduce administrative costs in counties of the Fourth Class by enabling the consolidation of these two offices.

Currently, the office of Prothonotary and the office of Clerk of Courts must be held by two different individuals, which imposes an extra burden on taxpayers. The Clerk of Courts office is responsible for maintaining records for the criminal courts, while the office of Prothonotary manages the court of common pleas related to civil cases.

Although the offices have distinct roles, their functions frequently overlap in terms of document management, record-keeping, and constituent service. Given the evolving demands for efficiency in our state’s judicial system and the increasing need for fiscal responsibility, consolidating both operations are imperative and will yield the following benefits:

• Consolidated Management Structure: A unified office would have a single management structure overseeing both clerical and court-related functions. This consolidation will simplify management, reduce duplication, and enhance the ease of tracking administrative workflows.

• Operational Efficiency: Merging the two offices will streamline document handling and record management, creating a more efficient process for both the public and staff. This approach will eliminate redundancies and foster a cohesive workflow.

• Cost Savings: The consolidation will lead to potential savings by diminishing the need for separate administrative resources, office space, and staff. These savings can be redirected to improve services provided to the public, reducing administrative overhead and allowing for more effective allocation of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

• Improved Service Delivery: A merged office would enhance service delivery to the public by providing more streamlined access to records and services. With a single point of contact for both civil and criminal court-related needs in these counties, the public can expect faster, more accurate assistance. This integration will foster a straightforward and cohesive system for accessing services, resulting in quicker response times. Furthermore, the merger will facilitate better integration of technology platforms, improving data sharing and access between the legislative and judicial branches, thus supporting the modernization of both offices.

Through these proposed changes, we aim to serve our communities more effectively while being mindful of our fiscal responsibilities. The proposed merger of Fourth-Class counties for the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices aims to enhance service efficiency and accessibility while saving precious tax-payer dollars.

Please join me as a co-sponsor of this bill which will help government efficiency and costs.
For questions about this legislation, please reach out to Aaron Bashir (abashir@pasen.gov) or Donald Beishl (dbeishl@pasen.gov)