Low-income Nebraskans who need legal services could be among the losers under recommendations by Gov. Dave Heineman for reducing Nebraska's $6.9 billion budget.

Court workers and people accessing the courts could be adversely affected by the need to make up for a $334 million budget shortfall.

To address the budget gap, the governor has proposed agency savings, general fund transfers, specific cuts and across-the-board reductions that eventually could mean layoffs or furloughs.

Dave Pantos, executive director of Legal Aid of Nebraska, said reductions outlined in one bill (LB3) to be addressed in the Legislature's special session on the budget endangers $1.5 million of that agency's $5.3 million 2010 budget.

That could affect about 3,500 low-income clients served by the agency.

Legal Aid of Nebraska is the largest recipient of money created by court filing fees on civil transactions.

About 35 Legal Aid attorneys statewide handle civil cases including domestic violence, child custody and support, evictions and predatory lending.

Barely 15 percent of low-income residents' legal needs are being met as it is, Pantos said.

"I think it's a real crisis," he said.

More and more people are going to court without an attorney, which affects the whole court system, he said.

Every dollar that goes to legal aid can prevent $5 from being added to state costs, Pantos said.

And more people need the agency's legal services during the economic downturn, he said. In 2007, 9,800 people accessed those services. In 2009, that number is expected to hit 11,700.

Not only do more people need services, but more people are being classified as working poor and thus qualifying for the agency's services.

The courts are facing reductions in operations, probation services, specialized courts, community corrections and court automation.

Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Mike Heavican said the courts already have moved to reduce costs in areas including hiring, travel and purchases. Salary increases and mileage reimbursements are lower than other agencies, and the courts postponed hiring an additional interpreter.

"Our remaining options are few," he said.

But they could include furloughs, closing courts on some days and layoffs.

Many workers, who are not under a union contract, already are underpaid, he said.

In the long term, Heavican said, the courts have a number of initiatives and projects that could make them more efficient.

In the short term, he would like the courts to be exempt from across-the- board reductions this year and have the flexibility to make their own decisions on how to manage further reductions.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.