Commissioners urged to review juvenile center staffing plan as out‑of‑county placements and per‑diem revenue shift

County officials reviewed the juvenile center's proposed 2026 budget, which included proposed new positions and substantial increases in part‑time wage lines.

Staff presented a staffing plan that would add two full‑time positions and increase part-time wages from about $30,000 to roughly $100,000; overtime lines remained high. Commissioners questioned whether revenue from housing juveniles from other jurisdictions — a per‑diem income stream — offsets the added staffing costs. The juvenile center director said out‑of‑county placements provide revenue but cautioned that per‑diems vary and that operating the center includes fixed facility and staff costs not fully covered by placement income.

Commissioners asked for a clearer cost-per‑bed and cost‑per‑day accounting to compare facility operating costs with per‑diem revenue and to estimate whether the proposed positions are required by regulatory ratios or to meet program standards. Several commissioners noted that shared regional use of the facility implies partner counties should consider contributions to maintain capacity.

Why it matters: The juvenile center is a county-run facility housing court‑involved youth; staffing decisions affect operating costs and the county general fund. Higher staff costs without matching revenue could require budget offsets elsewhere.

Next steps: Staff will provide detailed per‑day cost calculations and updated revenue/expense projections; commissioners asked for alternative staffing scenarios and partner‑county funding options before final decisions.