The Bay County Clerk of Court is already preparing for changes to make sure the cuts have a minimal effect. The state will no longer provide funding for juror and witness payments, which could cost the Bay County Courthouse a significant amount of money.

"In years past when people come to serve on jury duty or witnesses are subpoenaed to testify in court cases we requisitioned the money from the state. Well, state says we don't have that money anymore, so clerk, you're going to have to pick it up," said Harold Bazzel, Bay County Clerk of Court.

Jurors receive 15 dollars a day. If they serve more than three consecutive days they get 30 dollars a day. Bazzel estimates the courthouse will spend about $50,000 a year on jurors. He says they'll spend another $40 to 45,000 on witnesses, and that's just the first hit.

"With the economy like it is our recording department, which is where we record property sales, mortgage deeds is down about 30 percent through April, which figures out to be about $225,000," said Bazzel.

The clerk's office used to charge a one percent fee on the taxpayer to record a mortgage or deed, but the state eliminated that cost this year. Bazzel says that will be another $160,000 loss.

Since July 2007 nearly 300 full-time positions have been cut from the state court system's budget; 67 of those came just last week. But in Bay County, Harold Bazzel says he doesn't think the budget cuts will have an impact on staffing in the courthouse.

Bazzel plans to adjust his personnel to different areas of the courthouse as needed. He says the cuts will certainly mean tightening the belt this year, but they shouldn't cost any employees.

Overall, he says the courthouse will be able to handle the situation with careful planning.