Federal Courthouse In OKC Close To Shutting Down

With the Federal Government shutdown now in its 15th day, the Federal Courthouse in Oklahoma City is dangerously close to running out of operating funds.

Without federal appropriations, the courthouse has been running on money collected from court filing fees and a carry-over funds.

A notice posted on the courthouse's website says they have enough money to stay open for 10 days until October 15th. Then they would have to reassess the situation.

Now Court Clerk Robert Dennis says they may be able to stretch that out until Thursday and Friday.

"With all court units reducing their expenditures just the bare minimum essential expenditures they may be able to get us funding through Friday."

After that the courthouse will stay open, business as usual. Except no one will get paid.

"When that money runs out we won't have money to pay so we will have to convert to an IOU so we'll be paid with and IOU we won't get a paycheck after that," explained Dennis.

Dennis is one of those who won't get paid.

"I will cut back a little bit, and I'll be drawing out those savings," he said.

As well as members of this staff like Carrie Price.

"Hopefully they will come up with something soon because phone bills don't go off of IOU's nor your electricity or rent for that matter," said Price.

Price says she's hoping the government will come up with a solution before then. But honestly she just can't bear to watch.

"Now just hearing the word shutdown gets me on edge," she said.

Jurors will also be paid with IOU's until the government opens back up.

Federal Civil cases involving the U-S government have been delayed and some members of the U-S attorney's office have been furloughed.