Committee lowers youth diversion spending to $10,000 and approves budget amendment

The Support Services Committee voted Sept. 10 to approve the youth diversion budget for 2026 after amending the planned expenditures to $10,000 from an initial $15,000 estimate.

Circuit Clerk (presenter) and other committee members discussed projected revenues and prior-year participation. The clerk said only two applicants applied to the program this year and noted that revenue estimates take into account fee waivers and other changes in court collections. "Because then what happens to the extra money then?" one member asked; staff replied that unused funds would carry forward as cash carryforward into the next fiscal year.

A committee member urged outreach to local providers, saying the Boys and Girls Club had not applied this year and suggesting the county should "light a fire underneath" groups who might be eligible for funding. Committee members agreed to reduce the expenditure estimate to avoid overcommitting funds early in the year.

The amendment to set the youth diversion expense at $10,000 was adopted and the budget with that amendment was approved. The motion to approve the budget with the amendment was recorded as made by Mister Hadley and seconded by Mister McKenna.