Judge says caseloads have dropped as Elk County approves domestic relations reorganization

The Elk County Salary Board approved a set of reorganization items for the domestic relations office after hearing from Judge John McMahon and District Court Administrator Leanne Kovac on staffing and caseload trends.

Judge McMahon described several consolidations: combining the office administrator, PACS administrator and case manager into a single office administrator role and collapsing enforcement officer positions into intake and enforcement duties. He said some positions have been vacated and not filled. "In 2016, the total staff between the offices was 11," McMahon said. "The total cases for 2026 that we're looking at is a total of 528 cases," he added, comparing that to "right around a thousand cases" in 2016.

McMahon told commissioners the changes would yield cost savings and reflect a long-term reduction in domestic relations filings in Elk County and surrounding counties. Commissioners asked whether the items could be considered together; the judge moved approval of items 3A through D and the board approved them by voice vote.

The board recorded no further questions from taxpayers and then moved to adjourn.