No budget battle for Kane County Circuit Court Clerk in 2011?

A judge’s order denying Kane County Circuit Clerk Deb Seyller the appointment of an attorney for her would-be 2011 budget battles may not be as welcome as the news that Seyller doesn’t see the need for a battle at all.

Chief Judge F. Keith Brown rejected Seyller’s filing of a petition for an amended appointment of a special assistant state’s attorney to cover the 2011 fiscal year. Asked about the ruling, Seyller stated it was a moot point because that request was made before the recent appellate court ruling. That ruling said Seyller may use money from a special fund in her office to pay some of her employees. Both Seyller and the county board attorneys claimed victory in that ruling. Brown’s ruling this week said Seyller should make a formal request for a 2011 budget increase before asking for attorneys to represent her in any 2011 budget dispute.

Ken Shepro, the county board’s attorney, said Friday he expected Seyller would make such a budget increase request sometime soon. But in an e-mail interview Friday Seyller said the budget status update during a committee meeting Friday morning did not show a problem with Seyller’s budget.

“The county looks at bottom line budgets and from the county’s own financial reports and point of view, my budget is on target,” Seyller said.

Seyller did acknowledge receipt of a letter earlier this year from the county’s finance department indicating her 2011 budget trend would result in a deficit by the end of the year. Records show that letter came on Feb. 7.

“I received a letter, but I am unclear as to why,” Seyller said.

In Seyller’s own petition seeking lawyers to defend her 2011 budget it states the county board passed a budget that underfunds Seyller’s office by more than $587,000 this year. But all that was before the appellate court hearing, Seyller pointed out. She said she believed Shepro was confused and likely not speaking for the county board.

“Shepro jumping in whenever I am not present with the hope of further litigation is disappointing,” Seyller said.

But Shepro said he welcomes any news that Seyller believes she has no current problem with her 2011 budget.

“I’m torn between laughing and being amazed,” Shepro said.