Ironton City Council is on target when it comes to looking for financial options between the city and its municipal court.

Councilman Kevin Waldo recently expressed his concerns that Ironton Municipal Court Judge O. Clark Collins has more than $1.2 million — money that comes from fines and court costs — sitting in five specialized accounts, while the city continues to scratch and claw to implement a balanced 2012 budget.

Some have questioned if Waldo’s history with Collins, which includes a heated political battle for the judgeship, is a factor for his pushing this issue, a contention the councilman denies

Ultimately, the motivation is irrelevant. The result is far more important.

The judge is correct that the state has very specific guidelines on how these funds can be used and transferred. But this is certainly something that we would like to see Collins, the mayor and the city council look at a little closer.

Working together, there may be some options and expanded partnership opportunities that still fall within the state guidelines. Collins said the city is required to fund the municipal court, at least partially. That number is around $500,000 right now and has not increased in more than a decade, Collins said. That is certainly positive and something for which the judge should be commended.

However, could that funding amount be reduced by, say $100,000, to the probation department, with the difference being made up with monies from that funds?

Or could the computer funds be used to install a new system that would also benefit the entire city center and provide a partial upgrade for the water department, the finance department and others, potentially allowing savings elsewhere?

Could the community service work program take on more duties within the city of Ironton, something that has been a problem in the past because of objections by the unions, to allow personnel cuts to be made in other city departments?

Ironton faces significant financial challenges and its taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to shoulder the entire burden.

Nothing should be off the table and creative solutions must be considered.

If the city and its court can work together to make even some minor changes, it could provide significant relief for the government — and by extension the taxpayers — and still allow the court to do what needs to be done.