Topeka ? The Senate Judiciary Committee is urged to let the Kansas Supreme Court temporarily increase docket fees to offset anticipated budget cuts this year.

Trial judges told the committee Thursday that if the fees aren’t increased, about the only option would be to furlough court employees. They said that would result in reduced access to the courts by the public.

The Legislature needs to plug a projected $199 million hole in the current budget with spending cuts including in the judicary. Most of the judicial budget is for personnel and the courts already have imposed hiring freezes and made other cutbacks.

In 2002, the Supreme Court temporarily raised fees to offset a budget shortfall. In 2006 the Legislature enacted a law saying only legislators can change filing fees.