DECISION SUMMARY: "Case law has delineated those expenditures that can be considered 'lawful' or reasonable:
- Those the General Assembly has fixed by statute or absolutely reposed in the Court's discretion.
- 2. Those the local government unit…, which is required to provide the funds to meet such expenditures, may have authorized previously with or without request.
- 3. Those reasonably necessary for the Court to carry out its functions. In re 1984 Budget for Circuit Court of St. Louis County, 687 S.W.2d 896 (Mo. banc 1985)."
The request for salary increases for fifteen juvenile court employees is reasonable and Greene County is obligated to fund the salary increases. The request for salary increases for other court employees is unreasonable in light of compensation for other employees with similar responsibilities, see section 50.640, RSMo 1986.
DISSENT IN PART: The circuit court met its burden to show reasonableness of six other employees and Greene County should fund salary increases for those employees in light of compensation received by other county employees with similar duties.
DISSENT: The circuit court failed to meet its burden as to the reasonableness of all the salary increases requested.
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